The Cleveland Browns walked into the final stretch of the 2025 season staring at the No. 1 overall pick and a golden opportunity to reset at quarterback. But in true Browns fashion, a late-season surge - powered by a defense that still strikes fear thanks to Myles Garrett and an offense that somehow made six points feel historic - nudged them down to the No. 6 slot in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That shift might’ve cost them a shot at the consensus top quarterback in this class, Fernando Mendoza. Now, sitting at No. 6, the Browns are in a different neighborhood - one where names like Carson Beck and Drew Allar come into play.
Talented? Sure.
But there’s a noticeable drop-off after Mendoza, and the Browns may have to look a little deeper into the draft board to find their guy.
Enter Trinidad Chambliss, the Ole Miss quarterback who’s become one of the most intriguing - and complicated - stories in this draft cycle.
Chambliss burst onto the scene this past season after transferring from Division II Ferris State, where he spent four years but only played in two. In his lone year as the starter for the Rebels, he turned heads with 3,937 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and just two interceptions.
That kind of efficiency, especially in the SEC, doesn’t go unnoticed. But his journey - and his future - are anything but straightforward.
Here’s the wrinkle: Chambliss is doing everything he can to remain in college for one more season. He’s filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after they denied him an extra year of eligibility.
The heart of the matter lies in the 2022-23 season at Ferris State. According to the NCAA, Ole Miss didn’t provide sufficient documentation to prove Chambliss missed that season due to injury or illness.
But Chambliss’ legal team argues that a different bylaw should apply, citing a years-long battle with medical issues - including a tonsillectomy in 2024 that reportedly turned his health around.
The lawsuit describes the NCAA’s decision as “bad-faith, unreasonable, and arbitrary,” and Chambliss is fighting hard to get back on the field in Oxford. If he wins, he’s reportedly in line to become one of the highest-paid players in college football through NIL deals. That’s a strong incentive, especially when you consider the draft outlook.
Right now, NFL teams appear hesitant to spend a first-round pick on Chambliss. As talented as he is, he’s only played one season at the FBS level, and that lack of experience is giving front offices pause. His agent has acknowledged that reality, and it’s part of the reason why staying in school might be the better business decision for Chambliss - more time to develop, more tape for scouts, and a shot at climbing into that first-round conversation next year.
From Cleveland’s perspective, this creates a dilemma. Chambliss could be in play at No. 24 - the Browns’ second first-round pick - or even at No. 39 in the second round, if he enters the draft.
But there's no guarantee he’ll be available, and even less certainty that he’ll declare at all. And if he stays in school, the Browns are back to square one, looking for answers in a quarterback room that’s running out of them.
Historically, Cleveland’s quarterback carousel has been relentless. The franchise has cycled through more signal-callers than just about anyone in the league, and even when the defense delivers, the offense has struggled to keep pace. That’s why every potential solution, even one as unconventional as Chambliss, is worth exploring.
The odds aren’t exactly in Chambliss’ favor when it comes to winning his eligibility case. According to data cited in the legal filing, 40 players have challenged the NCAA on eligibility issues since November 2024 - and 26 of those cases went the NCAA’s way. Still, Chambliss is betting on himself, both in court and on the field.
For the Browns, it’s another offseason of hard questions at the most important position in football. And while Chambliss may not be the slam-dunk answer, he’s a name worth watching. Because in Cleveland, the search for a quarterback never really ends - and every potential answer matters.