New Browns Rumors on QB Pursuit in 2027 NFL Draft amid Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson Battle

The Cleveland Browns just made a seismic trade with the Los Angeles Rams, dealing reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett for two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Verse and three draft picks, including a first-rounder next year.

While they transition into a post-Garrett era, he Browns have an ongoing QB1 battle between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. However, the Browns now have two first-rounders in 2027, which could featured a loaded QB class.

Therein lies the possibility that Cleveland has an eye on that class as they load up on draft picks, per league sources to Jourdan Rodrigue and Zac Jackson of The Athletic.

"Meanwhile, league sources believe the Browns are gathering ammunition with an eye on next year's touted quarterback class, should their current options at the position not take a step forward. Moving away from Garrett also signals a more complete shift into their young roster after back to back years of drafting well."

A look at a "way-too-early" 2027 NFL mock draft from Brent Sobleski for Bleacher Report has four quarterbacks going No. 1 through No. 4, in this order: Miami QB Darius Mensah, Texas QB Arch Manning, Oregon QB Dante Moore and South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers.

Other collegiate signal-callers could also significantly raise their draft stock and be considered as high first-round picks this year, including (but not limited to) USC QB Jayden Maiava and Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr.

Cleveland isn't projected to do very well next year. FanDuel Sportsbook has the Browns' over/under at 5.5 wins. So the Browns could very well be in position to select a high-end QB prospect. If they exceed expectations, they could in theory package their two picks and move up higher in the draft regardless.

We'll see what happens down the road. In the meantime, the Browns are trying to figure out their starter for 2026.

It appears Watson could have the "leg up" in the competition, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler last Friday on NFL on ESPN.

"The Browns have not made any sort of firm determination yet, but they like Watson's experience," Fowler said.

Cleveland opens the 2026 season on Sept. 13 at the Jacksonville Jaguars.