The Cleveland Browns doubled down at the quarterback position in the 2025 NFL Draft. They brought in both Dillon Gabriel in the third round and Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round.
In addition to the two rookies, general manager Andrew Berry traded for Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles and signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in free agency. Adding four quarterbacks in one offseason, along with Deshaun Watson still being locked into a big contract for two more years, was aggressive.
Fans are hoping to see Sanders become the long-term quarterback of the future for the Browns. However, the franchise may have other plans.
While they got aggressive and drafted two quarterbacks this season, team owner Jimmy Haslam may be looking elsewhere for his long-term answer.
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Colin Cowherd, one of the most notable media personalities in the business, revealed a shocking report about Cleveland’s future plans under center.
In a segment on his show, Cowherd revealed a lot of details about the Browns’ level of interest in Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. It sure sounds like Cleveland’s long-term quarterback target is Manning, with Nick Saban potentially being attached as the team’s future head coach.
“This is the worst kept secret in the South,” Cowherd said. “Haslam, Jimmy, owner of the Browns — huge SEC, Tennessee booster, leans heavily on the Manning family. Very close to the Manning family. [Nick] Saban is incredibly close not only to Jimmy Haslam, but also to the Manning family as well. So, Saban, if he could land, I’m told, a top quarterback — like Harbaugh going to the Chargers for [Justin] Herbert — he would take a phone call from the NFL. …This is not a conspiracy theory.”
Making a move to pair Manning and Saban would be a huge change of course for the Browns. Obviously, this would also be the end of Sanders being a potential long-term option in Cleveland.
There is no telling whether or not Manning will even declare himself eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft. He could choose to stick around in college and keep playing for Texas.
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However, if the Browns and Haslam are already sold on Manning, they might find a way to make that happen.
Of note, Cleveland did acquire a second first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by trading the right to select Travis Hunter to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The front office will have pieces to move in order to jump up for Manning if he does declare.
Expect to continue hearing more about the Browns and Manning. Haslam seems to love the idea, but whether or not it will happen will not be known until next offseason.
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