Browns expected to pass on Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in favor of a quarterback with 30 touchdown passes

The Cleveland Browns are once again going through a quarterback crisis.

Even after bringing in four new quarterbacks this offseason, none have proven successful. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett have departed, and Dillon Gabriel's performance as a third-round rookie has been disappointing.

With Gabriel dealing with a concussion, Shedeur Sanders is set to make the first start of his career. The fifth-round rookie made his NFL debut in Week 11 versus the Baltimore Ravens, and was incredibly uninspiring, completing four of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception.

Cleveland will likely be back in the quarterback market in the spring, Bleacher Report's Alex Kay predicts the team will select Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

"The Browns shouldn't hesitate to take Mendoza as early as No. 1 overall and instantly hand him the keys to their offense. He represents their best chance of becoming a consistent contender for the first time since returning to the league nearly three decades ago," Kay wrote.

Mendoza's current season is proving to be a standout, with the junior quarterback has posted 30 touchdowns to just five interceptions boasting a 73% completion percentage. The 22-year-old has guided Indiana to an undefeated 8-0 record and is the current frontrunner for the Heisman trophy

Despite the Browns' struggles with quarterback selections, Mendoza emerges as a highly-regarded prospect who could become their franchise player. This transfer from California demonstrates exceptional accuracy and is also a surprisingly capable athlete with terrific size at 6-foot-5.

Should Sanders and Gabriel not demonstrate long-term viability by season's end, Cleveland will need to consider every quarterback avenue in 2026. Drafting Mendoza early and initiating a full reset at the position is a path the Browns ought to investigate.