Ohio State and Texas was a must-watch event by a significant margin. The 14-7 defensive battle was not the eventuality most fans had in mind at the start of the week. Both first time starters Arch Manning and Julian Sayin did not have the game most viewers were anticipating either.
Both of their stat lines combined would not have equaled what the game’s expectation was. Regardless of the game’s outcome, there was no shortage of future NFL talents to evaluate. However, when an NFL franchise sends their main decision makers to this game, it does raise some questions.
The Cleveland Browns were represented by owner Jimmy Haslam and general manager Andrew Berry as spectators for this matchup rife with NFL talent. The first intriguing aspect of this matchup is who was the evaluation target?
The obvious choice would be Arch Manning. Depending on the Browns’ intention for the two projected top 15 draft picks next year, it should come down to a few names even though Berry would say he’s there to watch every potential draft pick. Doing their due diligence is one thing, but fans will be hard pressed to think this was about anyone other than Arch Manning, Jeremiah Smith or Caleb Downs.
Make no mistakes about it. Haslam is a huge Manning family fan. With ties to Tennessee, the Browns owner has never been shy about his affection for Peyton Manning and by that extension, the family overall. In a recent press conference from training camp, Haslam was asked about the possibility of angling for Arch Manning in the upcoming draft.
Despite that answer coming during a four QB competition, Haslam all but tried to shut that idea down. In his answer, he suggested that there is no guarantee Arch even enters the 2026 NFL draft, making Arch not worth discussing at this time.
Manning staying in school past 2026 is an unpopular notion in NFL circles but one many experts believed was true. In large part to Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning all hinting at if not explicitly saying, Arch is not coming out early and plans to stay in college until college has nothing more to offer him from a developmental standpoint. Arch’s father, Cooper, has not publicly commented but did encourage his son to make his commitment to a school that would focus on his development.
All pointing to the same idea. Arch is in no hurry to go pro. That narrative took an abrupt change in direction when Arch himself came out publicly to counter that idea. Suggesting his family isn’t necessarily speaking for him regarding his pro decision.
The other NFL draft prize to evaluate is Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith. A player who has been described by many as potentially the greatest WR Draft prospect since Randy Moss, if not ever. Smith could’ve competed for an NFL starting WR job last year. The problem with him as a draft prospect is that he is only 19 years old and won’t even be draft eligible until the 2027 draft.
Last season didn’t do anything to slow down Smith’s draft hype. He racked up 76 receptions for 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 17.3 yards per reception average. At 6’3” and 225 pounds with legit NFL speed, Smith is an NFL front office dream. As exciting as he might be as a prospect, he’s not available. This would not be the first time evaluators traveled to scout a player they can’t yet draft. CJ Stroud’s Ohio State pro day was one of the largest attended in school history. Yet many scouts confirmed they were there to scout Marvin Harrison Jr a full year before he was eligible.
The final big prospect that could’ve led to sending the Browns front office is safety standout Caleb Downs. An Alabama prospect that transferred to Ohio State following the departure of Nick Saban, Downs had a 99 score as a 5-star prospect, according to 247 Sports. The eighth-ranked prospect in his recruiting class and the No. 1 transfer for OSU. At 6’0” and 205 pounds, the college tape he has out already is outstanding. Downs could be the best safety prospect in recent memory. Unlike Manning and Smith, there is a belief that Downs is a lock to enter next year’s draft and could be a top 10 pick.
To answer the question of who the Browns were there to see beyond the surface level logic is to digest their current situation. Despite what the team is willing to say publicly, the Browns are likely in what their local media has dubbed a “gap year”. Like the concept applied to recent high school graduates, this is the year to figure stuff out. No veteran and no team will admit that winning is not the goal. However, there is entirely too much tied up in that roster to believe they are not facing a gap year. Winning would be nice, but an early exit playoff season under Joe Flacco is short lived success for a team devoid of long-term success since the 1980s.
During the most recent Super Bowl, star defensive leader and arguably the face of the franchise Myles Garrett demanded to be traded. Thankfully for Browns fans, the team refused to trade him. Saving Cleveland fans from the depressing reality that many Dallas Cowboys fans are going through this week with the trade departure of Micah Parsons. Pro Bowl Guard Joel Bitonio put retirement on hold to see where this goes. Denzel Ward is consistently one of the best cover corners in the league but is not a young guy anymore. Top 10 Tight End David Njoku is entering what should be his NFL prime.
The worst existence a pro team can have is to continue as if they are one player away or within a competing window when they are not. The Browns have lived that for a quarter century. Always believing they were closer than they were and refusing to do what’s best for long term success. Regardless of quality of roster outside of QB, the team will not do much more than make a ceremonial playoff appearance until they fix the QB position.
The Browns ‘gap year’ is something the fans, but more importantly the team needs to embrace. In the last 5 seasons, the Browns have made the playoffs when they have at least ‘adequate’ QB play. If they cannot figure out the QB position between the 2025 regular season and the 2026 NFL Draft, there is no guarantee they will be anything better than a 7–9-win team for the foreseeable future.
That includes not putting all their eggs in the Joe Flacco basket. He is there to give veteran players and fans optimism. The reality of the situation is Flacco should be there to take the onslaught of the 2025 schedule weeks 1-6. The remainder of the season should be spent putting both rookies, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders through live fire starts to gauge where they are and if either can be the long-term answer. If both are not the answer that is also a worthwhile answer to the question.
Gabriel had a quality college career but has some limitations making him unlikely to be the ‘franchise QB’ after 2025 barring significant success this year. If he is the second coming of Drew Brees that would be fine, but that on its own is a tough sell. Sanders is the more intriguing option as he fits a more prototypical mold.
However, much of what Cleveland plans to do offensively is very different from what Sanders did at Colorado and Jackson State. It will be interesting to see what Sanders looks like when he incorporates the operational and pre-snap aspects he’s been asked to work on. Even with both rookies expected to start ‘many’ games in 2025, their place as the franchise QB in 2026 is anything but guaranteed.
The Browns decision makers showed up to Columbus because it’s in their best interest to look into noteworthy options for the 2026 NFL Draft. First option is that neither Gabriel or Sanders forced them to see either as that team’s franchise QB moving forward and being ready to pursue Manning with their two first round picks next year. The second option is Gabriel or Sanders are the franchise QB moving forward and those two first round picks are better used elsewhere.
The irony is that the three largest improvements to the Browns roster would be to have their future franchise QB moving forward (Dillon, Shedeur or a 2026 first round QB), a threatening WR, or a future top 5 Safety in the NFL. If the answer is draft a QB high and he becomes available, then Arch is why they were there. If they are good at QB (an idea even Browns fans can’t wrap their head around), Downs could be the priority with Smith not eligible.
Depending on how the Browns finish 2025, they could just sit and pick Downs where they are. Allowing them to pull in 2026 with one of their picks, what they did in 2025. Trade back in the first round to ensure they get a 2027 first round pick in return. Allowing them to stay in the Smith sweepstakes a year later.
The bottom line is the Browns were in Columbus for Texas vs Ohio State because its two College Football blue bloods loaded with future talent. Most will point to Arch Manning with the affection the Haslam’s have for the Manning’s, but it would be foolish to think that was the only reason. The Browns are in an interesting crossroads that will determine the next 5-10 years. Will they be a contender in a very stacked AFC or will it be more of the same. It will either create a championship window, or it will set the franchise back years, yet again.
Whether its Manning, Smith, Downs or simply their due diligence, the Browns being present for a marquee matchup that is relatively “just down the street” should not come as a shock to anyone.
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