The Cleveland Browns are preparing for one of the NFL‘s most intriguing quarterback battles heading into the 2025 season. With four potential starters on the depth chart and a fifth inactive due to injury, the franchise is bracing for what could be a defining training camp.
Right now, Cleveland’s quarterback room includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders. Deshaun Watson remains on the roster but is recovering from Achilles surgery and expected to miss most, if not all, of the season.
Even more intriguing is ESPN’s early look into the 2026 NFL Draft. Analyst Matt Miller has already projected the Browns to land the No. 1 overall pick, and with it, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. That early prediction has raised eyebrows, and for Shedeur Sanders in particular, it should light a fire.
The Browns could belong to Klubnik in 2026
If the Browns really do end up selecting Klubnik, it would likely signal a complete restart at the quarterback position. According to Miller’s projections, “Cade Klubnik would be the new face of the franchise in Cleveland.” And based on what Klubnik has done at Clemson, that wouldn’t be a huge shock.
Klubnik threw for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions last season. He led the Tigers to an ACC title and a College Football Playoff appearance, showcasing elite arm strength, solid mobility, and a knack for extending plays when the pocket collapses. His stock is rising – fast.
The suggestion that the Browns might take a quarterback in next year’s draft also hints at possible exits for both Joe Flacco and Deshaun Watson. Flacco, entering the final year of his current deal, isn’t a long-term solution. And Watson’s contract remains a complicated situation the team may look to resolve post-2025.
Once projected to be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sanders saw his stock fall dramatically and landed in the fourth round. Many attribute the slide to concerns over his pre-draft interview preparedness, though no one questions his physical gifts or potential. The Browns, perhaps seeing long-term upside, took the gamble. Now Sanders is in a battle not just to win a job, but to hold off a potential franchise reset.
Even ESPN’s mock draft could serve as fuel for Sanders. If he can take control of the QB1 role this summer and perform well throughout the regular season, he can flip the narrative and keep the Browns from chasing another quarterback next April. Otherwise, it may be Klubnik, not Sanders, under center in 2026.
The Browns open the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, and any of the current quarterbacks could be under center. It all depends on how they perform in the coming weeks.
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