Cleveland’s preseason quarterback mess has left fans steaming, and ESPN’s latest 2027 mock draft offers them a little relief in the form of a massive swing at the position.
In Jordan Reid’s Wednesday projection, the Browns don’t sit back and hope the problem fixes itself. They go after Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, moving from No. 4 to No. 1 by sending both of their first-round picks, a 2028 second-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder to make the leap.
That kind of trade is unusual in a mock draft, especially this far out, but Reid had Cleveland making the move anyway. Once at the top, the Browns land the quarterback many already expect to sit near the top of the board next spring.
"Moore has squeaky-clean mechanics, and his accuracy shined in his first year as a starter," Reid wrote. "This would be a good situation for him, with young players he can grow alongside. If he brings his stellar college play to the NFL, the Browns could turn things around quickly."
Moore was also in the mix for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft before choosing to return to Oregon for another season. That decision keeps him in the spotlight, and he should be right back in the conversation for next April’s draft.
The comparison that keeps coming up is C.J. Stroud, and Cleveland would gladly take that kind of outcome. Stroud has already won a playoff game in each of his first three NFL seasons and is positioned for a major second contract with the Houston Texans.
Reid’s mock also points to why Moore would make sense in Cleveland beyond the name value. The Browns have a run game built around Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, plus a receiving group that includes KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Harold Fannin Jr. The offensive line is still a work in progress, but it’s new and expected to improve over time.
That matters because Moore brings a lot to the table: elite arm talent, poise, quick processing, a veteran-like feel in the pocket and the ability to create off script.
And if the Browns don’t fully crater in 2026, they’d still have another route to get aggressive. Their extra first-round pick from the Myles Garrett trade could give them the flexibility to move up again if needed.
For a fan base that’s been miserable watching the quarterback situation unravel, this is the version of the future that actually sounds clean: Andrew Berry finally going bold, and the Browns landing a franchise passer through sheer force.
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