Shedeur Sanders may have landed with the Cleveland Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft, but questions about his long-term potential aren’t going away. Former NFL scout Daniel Kelly reignited the debate this week by pointing to six major sports media outlets already mocking Texas quarterback Arch Manning to the Browns in early 2026 NFL Draft projections.
As Cleveland prepares for a crowded quarterback competition, the speculation around Sanders’ ceiling — and Manning’s possible arrival — is heating up.
A QB Goes No. 1 Overall in ESPN’s Latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft, But Not Arch Manning
Well, this is a plot twist nobody saw coming! ESPN just dropped their first look at the 2026 NFL Draft class, and yes, they’re projecting a quarterback at the top spot—but it’s not who you might think. Despite all the hype and royal football lineage, Texas QB Manning isn’t the one projected to hear his name called first. Instead, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik has emerged as the surprise early favorite for the No. 1 overall pick.
It’s a fascinating development that’s already got football fans buzzing. Is this the beginning of a shift in the quarterback hierarchy we’ve been expecting? Let’s dive into ESPN’s way-too-early mock draft and see what’s behind this surprising projection.
According to ESPN analyst Jordan Reid, the Cleveland Browns are projected to make a bold move, trading up with the Tennessee Titans to snag Clemson’s Klubnik with the first overall pick. This is quite a surprise considering the Browns drafted Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, though they didn’t use any top-70 picks on a quarterback in the 2025 draft.
So what makes Klubnik worthy of the top spot? His 2024 stats certainly make a strong case: 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and just six interceptions as a second-year starter. Reid notes, “Klubnik made huge strides in his second season as a starter… He could be the long-term answer.”
The scouting report on Klubnik is equally impressive. He “maintains a strong platform while going through his reads” and shows consistency against various defensive looks. He’s got enough mobility to escape pressure, though his arm strength is described as “B-level,” meaning he’ll need to prove he can thread the needle into tight windows at the next level. Reid even compares his game to Bo Nix, highlighting his poise and decision-making abilities.
Perhaps the most shocking part of this mock draft isn’t who’s at the top but who isn’t there. Despite all the attention he’s received at Texas, Manning doesn’t even appear among the four quarterbacks projected to go in the first round. The reasons aren’t explicitly detailed, but it suggests other QBs have shown more on the field or possess traits that NFL teams covet more at this stage.
Four QBs Projected in First Round Show 2026 Class Depth
It’s not just Klubnik making waves in this quarterback class. Reid’s mock feature of four signal-callers in the first round shows how deep this position group could be in 2026.
South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers lands at No. 4 to the Jets as a “true dual-threat” who passed for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024 while rushing for 674 yards and seven scores. Reid sees shades of Donovan McNabb in his game, though he notes Sellers needs to improve his pocket vision and ball security after losing six fumbles in seven games.
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier goes seventh overall to the Rams via trade, potentially as Matthew Stafford’s successor. With a 79.1 QBR in 2024 (11th in FBS), his anticipation skills are exceptional, though interceptions remain a concern.
Penn State’s Drew Allar, who is No. 8 to the Saints. Standing 6’5″ and weighing 238 pounds, Allar has the prototypical size and tools NFL coaches dream about. His completion percentage jumped from 60% to 66.5% between his sophomore and junior seasons, showing notable development.
Of course, as Reid himself admits, “This is super early… This is based solely on where things stand right now, what I’ve seen from the class so far and what I’m hearing around the league.” As players develop and new information emerges, much will change over the next year.
But one thing seems clear: the 2026 quarterback class is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory, even without Manning at the top.
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