Through six weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns are 4-2, sitting tied atop the AFC North with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

There's plenty of optimism for this Browns team in 2026, but seeing this team actually compete for a Super Bowl this year still feels like a huge stretch. However, this team is a lot closer than some might care to admit.

ESPN's Ben Solak believes that the Browns are just one change away from being a Super Bowl contender. That one change? It's all about finding the right quarterback going forward.

Browns believed by ESPN analyst to be QB away from being a real contender

"I think ... the Browns are a quarterback away from contending," Solak writes. "... Through six weeks in the season, I'm there."

So, why does Solak believe in this Browns team being just one quarterback away from contending? Well, it's all thanks to the elite draft classes from Andrew Berry lately.

On offense, Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion, Harold Fannin Jr., and Quinshon Judkins look like real star-caliber players. It's a strong group, and with Spencer Fano at tackle, the Browns' offensive line is starting to come together as well.

All of those players were taken in the last two draft classes. Add in the solid defense the Browns have built, even without Myles Garrett, with Carson Schwesinger, Mason Graham, Denzel Ward, and others, and this team is in much better shape than others.

The only issue? The Browns don't have a good quarterback on the roster. Deshaun Watson hasn't been horrible this season, but he's not the future of the position for the Browns.

MORE: Giants' QB plans get complicated after Jameis Winston collapse, J.J. McCarthy surge

Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green are all not likely the QB of the future for Cleveland, either. So, with the extra first-round pick from the Los Angeles Rams in the Garrett trade, the Browns should look to find their QB of the future.

That could come in the form of someone like Justin Herbert in a blockbuster trade, or, more likely, a rookie QB taken highly in the 2027 NFL Draft who could be entering a surprisingly good situation in Cleveland.

If the Browns can find a good quarterback starting in 2027, then this team might actually be well-positioned to make a serious run towards a playoff spot, and potentially even a Super Bowl.

One more good draft from Berry, while resolving the QB position, and the Browns might be in business for a real Super Bowl bid as soon as 2027. Solak believes so, and based on the current roster, it's hard to argue against that point.

More NFL news: