Browns NFL draft: Drew Allar might not be the 3rd QB taken in 2026

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: Cole Payton #QB15 of North Dakota State speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images At the start of the 2026 NFL offseason, many were expecting the Cleveland Browns to make some kind of move at the quarterback position. Whether that was trading QB Dillon Gabriel to the Atlanta Falcons, signing QB Malik Willis , luring QB Derek Carr out of retirement , or trying to add from the likes of Kyler Murray , Anthony Richardson , and Geno Smith .

Barring a Richardson trade, the Browns are left to look to the 2026 NFL draft if they want to provide strong competition for Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson , along with Gabriel. Unless Jimmy Haslam really has Arch Manning as the true desire of his heart . It is possible that Sanders or Watson is the quarterback that new HC Todd Monken is excited to work with in 2026.

Monken may also have a lot of interest in QB Ty Simpson in the upcoming draft, given their history and the reported work the Browns have done on the Alabama quarterback . For many Cleveland fans, QB Drew Allar is a player of interest. Much like when QB Mitch Trubisky was coming out of college, local ties draw a strong reaction from fans .

However, Allar may not be the third quarterback off the board (behind Fernando Mendoza and Simpson), as that honor could go to North Dakota State’s Cole Payton : I’ll be surprised if he isn’t… Payton is QB3 IMO. https://t. co/vFEmVDc5Q8 — Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 20, 2026 Payton is seen by many as a developmental quarterback, but the upside with his accuracy and running ability has many wondering if teams will push him up their boards based on his upside.