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The Cleveland Browns are predicting to add CJ Carr #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Cleveland Browns made the determination, well ahead of their embarking on the 2026 NFL offseason, that they were going to take only limited steps to address the team’s dire quarterback situation directly. And, indeed, that has been the case, as Cleveland has rolled forward with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel in the QB mix, with new addition Taylen Green coming in as a developmental project in this year’s draft.
GM Andrew Berry has said, instead, that the goal for the Browns was to improve the quarterback “infrastructure” and “ecosystem” this offseason, a task that has two goals. One, it gives the Browns an opportunity to provide more protection and weapons for either Watson or Sanders, providing a cleaner way to be able to evaluate their passers than they had last year, when both the line and the receivers were terrible.
Two, it gives the Browns a jump start on drafting a quarterback in 2027, should neither Watson or Sanders (or Green or Gabriel) earn the job long-term.
Arch Manning, Dante Moore … CJ Carr?
The expectation in Cleveland is that the Browns will land on Option 2. It’s just unlikely, after all, that Watson will show so much improvement after two Achilles tendon surgeries to warrant giving him the keys not only in this season, but in coming seasons, too. Sanders has a better chance at being a long-term answer, but if he can’t beat out Watson, that’s a moot point.
With that in mind, it’s not unexpected that Browns fans would already peeking ahead to the 2027 mock drafts to see what, exactly might be awaiting them in a year. The issue there, though, is that quarterbacks are nearly impossible to project a year out–in 2025, we would have seen Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar in the first round, but not Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson.
Browns Land CJ Carr in 2027
Still, ESPN’s Jordan Reid took an early look ahead at next year’s class and it is packed with QB talent, starting with the apple of the Browns’ eye, Arch Manning of Texas and Dante Moore of Oregon. But Reid has both of those going before Cleveland picks.
Which means the Browns will turn to Notre Dame and CJ Carr for their next quarterback hopeful.
Writes Reid: “Every year a QB ascends from the pack and shoots up the draft. Carr could be that guy in 2027 after an encouraging first season as a starter. He finished last season with 2,741 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to six interceptions. He has a snappy release and excellent command at the line. And Carr has polished throwing mechanics, with his eyes, base and throwing motion all tying together.”
Browns Need 4 QBs ‘To Get Through Camp’
For now, though, the Browns will see how things shake out with the current group of quarterbacks, which Berry said he did not consider too weighty, with four contestants.
“You need it to get through camp,” Berry said. “We do believe in keeping three on the active roster and ideally a fourth on the practice squad. But it’s an important position. There is attrition throughout the year. And I think the other element is it’s never a problem to have too many good players. It just isn’t.
“Like, even as I think through last year with that position, we had two young guys, two vets who either got hurt or at one point were no longer the starter because of performance. And we were able to turn those players into resources that could help the team this upcoming off season.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
