Browns Predicted to Draft Shedeur Sanders Replacement no One Saw Coming

The Cleveland Browns have been trying to solve their quarterback problem ever since they rejoined the NFL back in 1999.

In that two-and-a-half-decade span, the team has tried 43 different QBs with only Baker Mayfield and Kelly Holcomb finding even moderate success.

Fans don't seem optimistic Cleveland's franchise QB is on the roster right now either.

The Browns plan to head into training camp with Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and Taylen Green competing for the starting job, but many are convinced the team will be picking a QB near the top of the 2027 draft.

Mike Renner of CBS Sports is among that group, and in his latest way-too-early mock draft, Renner thinks the Browns will go way off script and select a QB in the top five who isn't even on most draft analysts' radar right now.

"Drake Lindsey is an up-and-comer more people need to know about because of his certified rocket launcher for a right arm," Renner wrote. "He’s right there with South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers for the strongest arm in college football.

"Unlike Sellers, Lindsey has shown the ability to throw with multiple speeds and layer passes beautifully over the middle. He’ll need to improve his accuracy and pocket presence this year, but I like his chances of doing just that in Year 2 as a starter."

There are close to 10 signal-callers who could be potential first-round picks next year - Texas' Arch Manning, Oregon's Dante Moore, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, LSU's Sam Leavitt, Ohio State's Julian Sayin, Notre Dame's CJ Carr, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker, Miami's Darian Mensah, and Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss - but Lindsey isn't one of them.

The redshirt sophomore threw for 2,382 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions last year - his first as Minesota's starter.

Lindsey's draft stock see a meteoric rise like Jayden Daniels two years ago and Fernando Mendoza this year, but he would have to see some monster improvement in his development for that to happen.

There's always the outside chance either Sanders or Watson play well enough in 2026 to convince the Browns to commit to them long-term, but the betting odds favor the team drafting another passer in the 2027 draft.

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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 11:53 AM.