NFL Insider Reportedly Said Browns Were Eyeing 2026 QBs Before Drafting Shedeur

The Cleveland Browns were focused on the 2026 quarterback class before ultimately deciding to draft Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders last weekend, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

"I was told going into this draft, on Wednesday and Thursday last week, somebody told me the Cleveland Browns are not focused on getting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft. They are on to 2026," Schefter said Tuesday at the 16:30 mark of the Adam Schefter Podcast.

After selecting four potential starters by adding defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in the first three rounds, the Browns drafted Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft before trading up to select Sanders in the fifth.

When talking about the decision to draft Sanders, Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters on Saturday the franchise decided to target the Colorado quarterback because "the acquisition cost was pretty light, and we think he's a guy who can outproduce his draft slot."

Because of that cost, Schefter believes the Browns' decision to add Gabriel and Sanders won't stop the franchise from still looking for a signal caller in the next draft, especially given Deshaun Watson's uncertain injury status and Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco's one-year deals.

"What's the investment? It's next to negligible," Schefter said. "So, if neither quarterback makes it this year, and the Browns are in position next year to get somebody like Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, then they're going to go do that if they need to, and they have the draft capital to do that."

The Browns gained an additional 2026 first-rounder by trading back from the No. 2 selection and allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Travis Hunter.

Cleveland could now use that pair of first-round picks to target a quarterback in a class that could potentially feature Allar as well as Texas' Arch Manning, should he decide to go pro after one season as a college starter.