Schefter Dishes on Browns Rumors, Potential NFL Draft QB Plans amid Shedeur Sanders-Watson Battle

ESPN's Adam Schefter thinks it's more likely the Cleveland Browns will name Deshaun Watson their next starting quarterback than use another first-round draft pick on a signal caller.

The Browns currently hold the No. 6 and No. 24 selections in the 2026 NFL draft, which is set to start April 23 in Pittsburgh.

"I don't think they're going to go quarterback in Round 1 at all," Schefter said Tuesday on the Pat McAfee Show.

Schefter continued, "You're not gonna do it at six. Twenty-four would be a possibility, and I don't see it happening right now."

Bleacher Report's latest mock draft predicts the Browns will select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 6 and Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu at No. 24.

B/R projects the Las Vegas Raiders will take the top quarterback off the board right away by drafting former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1.

Ty Simpson could theoretically be the top quarterback left on the board at No. 24. The B/R mock projects the former Alabama quarterback will go to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 26.

The Browns also hold eight more picks, including selections in the second and third rounds. LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Penn State's Drew Allar and Miami Carson Beck could be options if Cleveland decides to target a signal caller deeper in the draft.

After moving on from Joe Flacco, the Browns spent most of the 2025 season playing behind two rookie quarterbacks in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Schefter said Tuesday he feels it is "absolutely on the table" that Watson could beat out both those second-year signal callers to resume his former role as QB1.

"It feels like it's moving towards that right now," Schefter said Tuesday.

Watson, a former three-time Pro Bowler with the Houston Texans, hasn't played since October 2024. He most recently underwent his most recent Achilles surgery in January.

He's still set to remain on the roster for 2026 after the Browns restructured the final season of the five-year, fully-guaranteed deal he signed with the franchise ahead of the 2022 season.

Browns coach Todd Monken told reporters Tuesday that reps with the team's top offensive unit won't be evenly divided among Watson, Sanders and Gabriel when OTAs begin April 7, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.

How the quarterbacks perform when they do get those reps could potentially influence how the Browns ultimately approach the draft.