The Cleveland Browns are once again staring down the barrel of a quarterback decision - and this time, they’ve got the draft capital to make a serious move.
Thanks to a draft-day deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, GM Andrew Berry is holding two first-round picks heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s a big deal for a franchise that spent three straight drafts (2022-2024) without a first-rounder, all due to the high-risk, high-regret trade for Deshaun Watson. That move hasn’t panned out, and now the Browns are back at square one under center - but this time with the ammo to do something about it.
Right now, Cleveland is in position to pick fifth overall after Week 13 - not exactly where they hoped to be in the standings, but a prime spot for a team looking to reset at quarterback. The Jaguars’ pick, which once looked like it might land in the top 10, has taken a hit.
Jacksonville is tied for first in the AFC South, and that selection currently sits at No. 26.
Still, two first-rounders are better than one - and way better than none - especially when your quarterback room is still a question mark.
Enter Dane Brugler’s first 2026 mock draft, which paints a bold scenario: the Browns packaging both of their first-round picks - and likely a Day 2 pick in 2027 - to move all the way up to No. 1 overall in a deal with the Tennessee Titans. The target? Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Now, Mendoza isn’t the flashiest name in the class. He’s not going to blow you away with arm strength or 4.4 speed.
But what he brings is a level of polish and football IQ that scouts love. Think Jared Goff or Kirk Cousins - quarterbacks who win with timing, anticipation, and the ability to read a defense like a seasoned vet.
Mendoza processes the game quickly, knows where to go with the football, and has just enough mobility to keep plays alive when things break down. He’s not a dual-threat, but he’s not a statue either.
For Cleveland, it’s easy to see the appeal. They liked what they saw in Dillon Gabriel last year, but Mendoza offers similar decision-making traits with a better physical profile and higher ceiling. In a class that’s still being evaluated and debated, Mendoza might not be the consensus QB1, but he fits the mold of what the Browns are looking for: a steady, smart, pro-ready leader at the most important position in the game.
Of course, moving up comes at a cost. In Brugler’s mock, the Titans use the Browns’ picks to grab Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk at No. 5 and Texas A&M wideout KC Concepcion at No. 26 - two high-upside players who could help jumpstart Tennessee’s rebuild on both sides of the ball.
Meanwhile, the quarterback carousel doesn’t stop with Mendoza. Brugler has the Raiders jumping up to No. 2 in a trade with the Giants to select Oregon’s Dante Moore.
If that plays out, it would mark the first time since 2016 that the top two picks in the draft were both traded - a year that saw the Rams move up for Goff and the Eagles trade with the Browns to take Carson Wentz. That bit of history is hard to ignore, especially considering how both of those careers unfolded.
Back to the Browns - if they stay put at No. 5, there’s a chance Alabama’s Ty Simpson could be available. Brugler has him going at No. 14 to the Steelers, which means Cleveland could theoretically land a quarterback without giving up the farm.
But that’s a gamble. Simpson has tools, sure, but he’s not the sure thing Mendoza appears to be from a mental and mechanical standpoint.
Whether that’s a missed opportunity or a bullet dodged depends on how you view Simpson’s long-term potential.
What’s not up for debate is that Cleveland needs to find its quarterback of the future. That box has to be checked.
But the Browns also have several other roster holes, particularly on offense, where depth and playmaking are still lacking. Giving up two first-rounders (and likely more) to move up for Mendoza means passing on the chance to add another top-tier talent - maybe a game-changing wideout, lineman, or defender.
It’s a classic draft dilemma: take your shot at the most important position, or stick with your picks and try to build a more complete team. For the Browns, it’s not just about fixing the quarterback spot - it’s about finally getting it right. And if they believe Mendoza is that guy, then it’s go time.