Browns projected to trade a haul up to No. 1 overall in ESPN mock draft for a new QB

The Cleveland Browns, heading into the 2026 season, might already have fans eyeing up mock drafts before the season has even begun.

Their decision to name Deshaun Watson the starter over Shedeur Sanders revealed that the team doesn't believe their quarterback of the future is on the team. They're eyeing the 2027 NFL Draft for their franchise guy.

ESPN's Jordan Reid is projecting the Browns, in his preseason mock draft, to trade up to No. 1 overall with the Miami Dolphins, giving up a massive haul in the process, to land their franchise QB in Oregon Ducks star Dante Moore.

Browns projected to trade up to No. 1 in ESPN mock draft to land Dante Moore

"1. Cleveland Browns (via projected trade with MIA) Dante Moore, QB, Oregon," Reid writes. "...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."

Drafting a quarterback early in the 2027 NFL Draft seems all but a certainty at this point for the Browns. Unless Sanders were to play like an MVP candidate, the Browns are very likely to draft a QB.

Dante Moore, the Oregon Ducks Junior QB, would not be a bad option. Last season, he threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns with 10 interceptions while running for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 73 attempts.

Moore, at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, would be a very nice addition to the Browns' QB room as their new starter. There was a chance he would declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, and if he had done so, he likely would've gone No. 2 overall to the New York Jets.

MORE: Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders

Instead, he returned to college, and the Browns could be major beneficiaries of that. While some might be calling for Arch Manning to be the Browns' QB of the future, Moore brings some high-quality upside and would be worth getting excited about.

Reid has the Browns giving up a haul to move from their No. 4 projected draft pick to No. 1 overall. The Browns would be trading "their first-round picks (Nos. 4 and 32 overall), a 2027 fourth-round pick and their 2028 second-round pick..."

It's a large package for the Browns to give up, but landing their quarterback of the future is too important to skimp on. Moore has a chance to be a great QB, and spending so much to land him is a worthwhile investment for the Browns.

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