Being a Cleveland Browns fan is no picnic. Since the turn of the century, the team has had just four winning seasons and made only three playoff appearances. They hit rock bottom in the infamous 2017 season when they couldn’t buy a win and finished 0-16. The silver lining? Things have improved somewhat since Kevin Stefanski became head coach in 2020, leading the Browns to two postseason berths.
However, the good times may be on hold-oddsmakers predict only 4.5 wins for the Browns in the upcoming season, the lowest in the NFL. This could earn them a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With the first-round pick they received from the Jaguars in the Travis Hunter trade, the Browns have two chances to select a game-changer in 2026.
Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL icon Deion Sanders, was expected to be part of that change. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 draft after receiving first-round buzz, Sanders has big-name potential, but he also raises big questions. His offseason performance-41 of 53 passes completed, nine touchdowns, and one interception-suggests promise, but history shows that fifth-rounders rarely become franchise cornerstones.
Fernando Mendoza Rising: Could He Eclipse Sanders?
Now, whispers are swirling that the Browns might already be eyeing a replacement: Fernando Mendoza, a 30-touchdown slinger and new player for Indiana. Let’s explore why this rumor is making waves.
Here’s the juicy part: Joe DeLeone from Pro Football Network dropped a 2026 mock draft bombshell, pegging the Browns to nab Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. “Mendoza’s not a big name yet,” DeLeone noted, “but by draft time, he’ll be a hot commodity. At Cal in 2024, he showed off a lively arm and playmaking chops. If Cleveland’s hitting reset, he’s the kind of talent they’d chase.” Mendoza’s resume backs it up-3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six picks in 2024, with a sharp 68.7% completion rate. Over two years at Cal, he piled up 30 scores before hopping to Indiana.
Late-round miracles like Tom Brady or Brock Purdy happen, sure, but they’re unicorns. Sanders could defy the odds, but the stats say Day 3 picks seldom stick as franchise leaders. Mendoza, though? He’s got the tools to turn heads, and if he shines at Indiana, Cleveland might see him as their next big swing. It’s a wild call with so many QBs potentially in play next April, but the Browns love a bold move.
Browns’ Endless QB Shuffle: A Tradition of Turmoil
Cleveland’s quarterback saga is a roller coaster with no brakes. Since 1999, the Browns have burned through 40 different starting quarterbacks-that’s more than any other team in the NFL. Last year alone, four players took snaps, and not one of them-not even Deshaun Watson-is returning in 2025. This revolving door has kept success at arm’s length, and with another rough season looming, the Browns could be drafting high again.
These are just rumors, but the Browns’ track record lends them credibility. Consider Baker Mayfield, who delivered their first playoff win in 26 years in 2021, only to be released after an injury-plagued season. Then they took a chance on Deshaun Watson, who has been a $230 million bust so far.
With the quarterback room now consisting of veteran Joe Flacco, former Steeler Kenny Pickett, and rookies Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, stability seems unlikely. If this offseason is any indication, I wouldn’t bet against Cleveland drafting another quarterback in 2026.
We’ll get our next clue when training camp kicks off-July 18 for rookies, July 22 for vets. Stefanski’s got a tough call for the August 8 preseason opener against the Panthers. Pickett’s got the edge with his youth and starting experience, while Flacco, in year 18, feels more like a sideline sage.
Sanders and Gabriel might not start week one, but Cleveland’s chaotic QB history-only two guys have lasted a full season since ’99-says they’ll get a shot eventually. If Sanders stumbles, or if the Browns tank as expected, don’t be shocked if Mendoza’s name keeps climbing the rumor charts
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