I think Jimmy Haslam, a Southern guy, will throw all his chips in to get Arch Manning, a Southern guy. Haslam has an obsession with overriding the front office on QB decisions.
But will Manning (the Mannings?) pull an Elway/Eli and say Arch will not play for Cleveland?
I think it depends on what the CLE front office/coaching staff looks like by draft day, and whether the Browns address the offensive supporting cast by then. As you mentioned in an earlier comment, the Browns interior O-line needs rebuilding. (I would add that LT is still a problem, as Dawand Jones should be at RT.)
If the Mannings are convinced that a new CLE brain trust has a plan, then why not the Browns for Arch? If Arch is the real deal, then he might embrace the idea of carving out his own legacy in CLE.
I got an email from a reader and was asked to respond to you guys.
There is buzz about Manning going back to Texas for 2026, but it's fluid, and players go back and forth on the decision every year. Thus, it's definitely too early to make any firm judments.
As for the Browns, they went 1-15 in 2016, and Andrew Berry was part of the braintrust that passed on Trubisky, Pat Mahomes and Deshaun Watson for a DE with the No. 1 overall pick. They passed on Watson twice in that draft and could have moved up a few spots from pick 12 for Mahomes after taking Garrett. So they realistically passed on Mahomes twice. The year before, he was part of the braintrust that passed on Carson Wentz after going 3-13. Based on his track record, taking a QB is not a guarantee.
@Charlie Campbell If the Browns pick in the top 4 I guarantee they take a QB. Several teams passed on Mahomes. And you're using Wentz and Watson as proof? Ouch. Passing on Watson wasn't the error the Browns made, trading for him was. And Wentz was a bust.
Given the fact that Manning QBs have historically stayed until their Sr. years and Arch's relative inexperience, I can understand omitting Arch from this mock draft. I also believe that Sellers could emerge as the top prize (with Fernando Mendoza a darkhorse), as guys like Nussmeier (undersized/iffy decision-maker) and Klubnik (questionable arm) might be closer to Day 2 than top-of-the-draft prospects.
I personally think TEN remains the least-talented team in the NFL (they're STILL talking up Treylon Burks lol) and will again bat leadoff in the '26 Draft. (Cam Ward will be a bust, but TEN won't pull the plug after just one season.) If I'm right, CLE has to be the front-runner to move up to 1.01, regardless of Berry's history. Also of note: Chances are good that Berry will be unemployed by the time the '26 Draft rolls around. Any new regime's top priority will be ending the decades-long shit show at QB.
I think Caleb Downs might be the best defensive player in the nation and there’s definitely not a better Saftey in the nation. Suprised to see you have Sabb going over him. Dont get me wrong Sabb is good but hes not Downs
Again, if the Browns have the 3rd (or 4th?) worst record in football it won't be because of OL or DL play, it will be QB. And that would be the pick. To use a high draft pick on yet another DL is just insane.
Would like to see Cleveland somehow get Caleb Downs, he's going to be a great pro. Would've been a top 10 pick in this recent draft. They already have safeties though, maybe they could use him in nickel packages. Greg Newsome won't be back in 2026, one way or the other.
Otherwise Cleveland needs interior OL. Their guards are expensive and Bitonio is getting old. Teller will be 31 during the 26 season. Would've been nice to trade Bitonio before the draft. I'm not sure Zak Zinter is developing.
Walt-Imho I think Arch Manning will take his Uncle Eli's plan to the NFL- Imho I think Arch will play 3 years at Texas and declare for the NFL Draft in 2028. I do agree with your assessment regarding the quarterback class for 2026 and that the Saints- Steelers- Jets and Raiders will draft quarterbacks. I can see the Rams drafting their next franchise quarterback in 2027 class just my 2 cents worth
So the Browns finish with the 3rd (or 4th?) worse record in the NFL with no QB and you have them taking a tackle and a CB. Can't emphasize enough that it will be a QB (if they are picking this high0
I honestly don't think the Browns go defense with 2 top ten picks. Like I said last week, unless someone lights it up (no Flacco) then the highest pick will be a QB
"generally reliable" and "character concerns" do not scream 3rd pick of
the draft at me. Unless one of the younger Cle QBs steps up in a big way
their highest pick will be for a QB
)
I think Jimmy Haslam, a Southern guy, will throw all his chips in to get Arch Manning, a Southern guy. Haslam has an obsession with overriding the front office on QB decisions.
But will Manning (the Mannings?) pull an Elway/Eli and say Arch will not play for Cleveland?