Who starts at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns and how they play is going to have a major impact on whether the team can improve after a 5-12 season. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are the two lead candidates on the team to be the starting quarterback, but the door is still open for the Browns to add to the position. 

Cleveland didn’t sign a free-agent quarterback, and it appears the draft or trade market is where any outside names will be joining from. The Browns adding a quarterback in the draft feels unlikely unless it’s a Day 3 swing on someone with upside. There’s a steep fall off after Fernando Mendoza and Cleveland would be better served using Day 1 and Day 2 picks on improving the rest of the roster.  

When Day 3 of the draft rolls around is when the Browns should be open to adding another quarterback. Hitting on talent in those rounds is a shot in the dark at best, so trying it at the most important position can’t do much wrong. With that being said, there are five potential Day 3 names to know for the Browns. 

There are two names commonly brought up for the Browns and I’ll profile those, then A to Z Sports draft analyst Ryan Roberts offers three intriguing names to know. 

Drew Allar (Penn State) 

Allar is the Northeast Ohio native who was a five-star recruit who didn’t end up with the Buckeyes. Allar never progressed at Penn State into a top-level quarterback, but he definitely looks the part at 6-foot-5, 228 pounds. The former Penn State QB can make all of the throws, but inconsistencies and misses have hindered him from taking the next step. An NFL offense may be tough for Allar to get a handle on for a bit, and he’s not someone you want starting a game in his first season. Maybe Cleveland takes him on the third day as a hometown development story — the value is fine there in this draft.

I understand the Drew Allar hype… pic.twitter.com/H04RewL8j6

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 24, 2026

Carson Beck (Miami) 

Beck played a ton of college football, 55 games over six seasons to be exact, so he definitely has the experience working for him. After the 2023 season at Georgia, it appeared Beck was going to be an early draft pick. From there his career went backward due to injury and inconsistent play. Beck rebounded in 2025 when he transferred to Miami and threw 30 touchdown passes and led the Canes to the title game. Beck spent time at Georgia with Todd Monken and there’s familiarity there. If I’m the Browns, I can’t take him before the fifth round due to the lack of juice he has on his football since the UCL surgery. 

Cole Payton (North Dakota State) 

In the volatile world of the transfer portal, Payton opted to stay patient behind Trey Lance and Cam Miller. That opportunity ended up being well worth the wait, putting robber a notable 2025 season. Payton is a bigger signal caller who has legitimate athleticism to hurt a defense as a scrambler and in the quarterback run game. There is also some natural arm talent to work with, although it is pretty raw. A one-year starting quarterback is a tough sell these days but the wait could pay off with patience. There is still an intriguing developmental track to work with. 

Jack Strand (Minnesota State-Moorhead)

Over the last several years, Strand tore up the D2 ranks with an impressive blend of arm strength and size. From a physical perspective, Strand is exceptionally well built and has a solid foundation to build off of. He’s a very natural thrower of the football, possessing the toughness to stay patient inside the pocket. When his mechanics are consistent, there isn’t a throw Strand can’t make, or a level of the field he can’t threaten. He is also a solid athlete who can extend the pocket to find throwing windows. There should be excitement for what Strand can become, especially since you only have to spend a sixth or seventh round pick on him, at best. 

Taylen Green (Arkansas) 

If your goal is to bet on an athlete, Green is one of the better ones we have seen at the quarterback position historically. During his time at Arkansas and Boise State, Green showed that he is very dangerous on the move. That’s both as an extender and in the run game. While Green’s arm is just average for NFL standards, he does flash the ability to push the football vertically. Green is never going to be a high-end passer but his running skills add an element that nobody else has in the 2026 class, at least not to this level.