The youth movement at quarterback has finally arrived in Cleveland.
The Browns have ditched the Joe Flacco plan and are now getting an extended look at rookie signal-caller Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders is now one injury away from getting his chance.
But Cleveland is 0-2 since making that switch and Gabriel hasn't exactly lit the world on fire. The Browns have 11 more games to evaluate their young signal-callers, but there's a very realistic chance neither one cements themselves as Cleveland's long-term solution at the position.
If that's how things play out, the Browns could dip into the 2026 NFL draft for yet another quarterback, and Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema sees that happening.
With the No. 2 overall pick in his latest mock draft, Sikkema has the Browns taking Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who Sikkema believes has elite arm talent among the top quarterback prospects in college football.
Mendoza had some fans coming into the season after showing some promise in 2024 at Cal – though he did produce more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws. This season at Indiana, he’s taken his game to a more consistent level with five big-time throws, three turnover-worthy plays and an 81.0 passing grade. He also might have the best overall arm talent of the top quarterbacks right now, outside of South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.
Mendoza had two productive years at Cal before transferring to Indiana for this year. Since then, he is taking his game to another level.
Mendoza has shown impressive accuracy with a 71.2% completion rate, and he has thrown for 1,423 yards and 17 touchdowns to two interceptions. At this rate, the Indiana quarterback could be the top quarterback in next year's class, although Mendoza isn't a lock to come out because he's a junior.
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mendoza has the size you want in a quarterback, and he displays impressive pocket presence and arm strength that allows him to make all the throws, and he has enough mobility to extend plays.
While decision-making and accuracy were issues at times in the past, Mendoza has shown vast improvement in both areas this season, which shows his development as a player is moving in the right direction.
If the Browns don't see enough out of Gabriel and Sanders in 2025 and Mendoza is on the board when Cleveland is on the clock in 2026, the team shouldn't hesitate to turn its card in for the Indiana star.
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