Monday after Week 15’s loss brings us another Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL mock draft. This time, we add Mendoza, one of his favorite targets, and a lot of offensive line help. We used Pro Football Focus’ simulator for this mock draft.

Shedeur Sanders has turned heads at times during his rookie season, but he may not be the franchise quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

“No. 1 overall in ’21, Trevor Lawrence, and his coach Urban Meyer is fired at midseason,” Pluto pointed out. “And of course in ’18, the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield, and Hue Jackson was fired.”

The quarterback class is thin so what if someone gets aggressive for the new Heisman Trophy winner come April?

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner currently has the Browns drafting No. 8 and with that pick he see’s the team taking Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who will lead the Hoosiers against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

One player considered a sneaky No. 1 pick at one point was LaNorris Sellers, but South Carolina did not build on its nine-win campaign from 2024. Sellers is set to go back to school, so he's no longer in the running to be the top pick.

The Cleveland Browns could be in the market for a new quarterback in the first round, depending on who is available with the top draft choices.