It is much too early to tell how the Cleveland Browns might approach the quarterback position in the 2027 NFL Draft. Before the season began, it was a foregone conclusion that they would be choosing one with a top pick, maybe even No. 1 overall.
But entering Week 5, things have already changed considerably. Not only does Cleveland look more like a playoff contender than in line for an early selection, but Deshaun Watson’s resurgence has complicated things as well.
With that in mind, the Browns are linked to promising QB prospect Drew Mestemaker of Oklahoma State in FOX Sports’ latest mock draft, taking him at No. 21 overall.
“Maybe Deshaun Watson really is resurrecting his career. Maybe one of Shedeur Sanders, Taylen Green or Dillon Gabriel will prove to be the future in Cleveland. But with two first-round picks and a quarterback class as rich as this one still figures to be, general manager Andrew Berry shouldn’t waste the opportunity to fix the Browns’ biggest worry. Mestemaker’s upside could warrant a gamble earlier by another team, but he’ll likely need time before seeing the field,” Rob Rang wrote.
Using the order based on current NFL standings, the Browns’ selection of Mestemaker is with the pick they acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett trade. Based on the surprising nature of Cleveland’s season so far, its own pick is actually behind that at No. 22, where they are projected to take Notre Dame guard Anthonie Knapp.
Watson can become a free agent after this season. But even if his comeback story takes another unexpected turn and he re-signs with Cleveland, the Browns would still need a QB of the future to develop.
That’s because if that Watson scenario plays out, it means Shedeur Sanders did not get an opportunity to prove he can be that franchise QB going forward. Dillon Gabriel would have a chance to remain as a backup/QB3, with developmental project Taylen Green still in the mix.
As for Mestemaker, he played his first two college seasons at North Texas before transferring to Oklahoma State this season. He has the size (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) of a prototypical NFL quarterback, and he complements that with good running ability. He helped Oklahoma State to an upset of Oregon earlier this season, but he does struggle with interceptions.
He is the fourth QB off the board in this mock draft, following Arch Manning at No. 5 to the Miami Dolphins, Trinidad Chambliss at No. 6 to the New York Jets, and Dante Moore at No. 9 to the Arizona Cardinals, with CJ Carr going to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 30.
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