The Cleveland Browns looked to be in a prime position to land a top quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. They were not winning many games, which would guarantee them a prime spot in the order, maybe even No. 1 overall.
There were plenty of top QBs expected to be available, with a class that could have rivaled the 2024 group that included Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix, so having the top pick wasn’t particularly necessary. However, it turns out there is only one top QB talent who will enter the process: Fernando Mendoza of Indiana.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the rumored potential Browns QB prospect has announced he will enter the 2026 draft.
“Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza announced that he is declaring for the NFL Draft, where he is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick,” Schefter posted on X.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza announced that he is declaring for the NFL Draft, where he is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/Y9HA0mynIw
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 23, 2026
Entering the season, Mendoza was not considered among the top QB prospects, a group that included Arch Manning of Texas, Garrett Nussmeier of LSU, and Drew Allar of Penn State.
Though the latter two are expected to be available in the draft, their 2025 seasons were marred by subpar play (Nussmeier) and injury (Allar), which significantly hurt their stock. Meanwhile, Manning got off to a slow start to the season, and even though his play picked up later on, he decided to return to school for another season, leaving him as a potential option for the Browns in 2027.
Oregon QB Dante Moore, who was thought to be the potential No. 2 overall pick after Mendoza, also decided to play another college season, thinning the class even further. That could move Alabama QB Ty Simpson up the board, with the lack of better options, and he has been linked to the Browns at No. 6 overall.
If the Browns had not won their final two games of the season with Shedeur Sanders at quarterback, they would have been higher in the draft order. Then, this announcement from the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion would have been greeted with much more excitement from their fans.
Now, if they want to draft Mendoza, they will have to make an exorbitant offer to the Las Vegas Raiders in an effort to trade up to No. 1.
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