Browns Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel predicted to be replaced by nation’s top QB, Heisman favorite

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 season with one of the most talked-about quarterback rooms in the league. Before trading Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders, the team carried four quarterbacks on the roster. That number has since been reduced to three, not counting the injured Deshaun Watson.

The starter remains 40-year-old Joe Flacco, who has Cleveland off to a 1-2 start. Behind him sit rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

But when it comes to the Browns and quarterbacks, nothing is ever certain. Next season, Flacco is likely to be retired or with another team. As for Gabriel and Sanders, their futures are unclear.

That uncertainty keeps the Browns in line to draft another quarterback. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner has Cleveland selecting No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft. With that pick, he projects the Browns to take Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Renner pointed to Mendoza’s performance in Indiana’s Week 4 blowout win over Illinois, a 63-10 rout that vaulted the Hoosiers into the national spotlight.

“I had Mendoza No. 1 overall in my preseason mock draft, and after passing his first real test against Illinois over the weekend with flying colors, that’s not changing,” Renner wrote. “The Cal transfer finished with 17 straight completions against the No. 9 Illini and now has 14 passing touchdowns (16 total) with no picks on the season.”

Mendoza currently ranks second nationally in completion percentage (78.8%) and quarterback rating (206.2), while leading the nation in passing touchdowns.

Fernando Mendoza Becomes Heisman Favorite

Mendoza has quickly become a Heisman Trophy favorite after Indiana’s big win. If he continues to build his case and leads the Hoosiers back to the College Football Playoff, he could parlay that success into becoming the top pick in next year's draft.

That scenario likely wouldn't sit well with either Gabriel or Sanders. If the Browns were to draft another quarterback in 2026, it would cast serious doubt over the futures of their two rookies.

Neither has truly had a chance to prove himself yet, though. Flacco has started all three games, and Gabriel is the only one to see action, while Sanders has yet to take a snap in the regular season.