The Cleveland Browns have appeared to resign themselves to an underwhelming quarterback competition this offseason, between second-year man Shedeur Sanders, who was rated No. 38 out of 38 graded quarterbacks at Pro Football Focus last season, and Deshaun Watson, the bust veteran who is coming off two Achilles tendon surgeries. Throw in 2025 third-round NFL draft pick Dillon Gabriel, who was No. 37 on PFF’s list, if you must, but he did not show much promise as an NFL starter in his six games at the helm in 2025.
The presumption is that, somewhere along the line, the Browns will pick up another quarterback who won’t challenge for the starting job but who could be a player the team can develop next season. There has been talk about trading for Anthony Richardson of the Colts, but that has not come to fruition.
Instead, the Browns could take a gamble on a relatively low-rated prospect in this week’s NFL draft, and there just well might be an ideal candidate–Taylen Green of Arkansas.
Taylen Green Ran 3rd-Fastest 40 for a QB in NFL Draft Combine
Green has been one of the most dangerous dual-threat QBs in the game for the past two seasons, a guy whose physical abilities are eye-popping–he is 6-foot-6 and ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, third all-time among quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick. That’s certainly a draw for new Browns coach Todd Monken, who was the offensive coordinator for Jackson for the past three seasons.
But Green can be dangerous for both his opponents and his own team. In his two seasons with the Razorbacks, he committed 37 turnovers, and threw 35 interceptions in 51 starts in his career (which began with Boise State).
Still, for Cleveland.com’s draft expert, Tim Bielik, Green is too tempting to pass. In his seven-round projection of the Browns’ picks this weekend, Bielik sees Cleveland taking the plunge on Green in the fifth round.
Perfect Browns Skillset for Todd Monken in NFL Draft
Bielik sees the Browns’ decision on Green going beyond just teaching him better technique on the practice field, though. He could be used as a gadget-play weapon, even here in 2026.
He writes: “But what he has is an incredibly rare skillset for the position. Rarely do you see pure athletes like Green with that kind of size and speed (4.36-second 40-yard dash, 1.55 10-yard split). Green shouldn’t be viewed as simply a developmental quarterback.
“Think of him like a chess piece Todd Monken could use. Even if he runs the Wildcat no more than a few times a game … his legs make him an unusual weapon that defensive coordinators will have to spend at least a little time game-planning for.”
Taylen Green Too ‘Physically Gifted’ for Browns to Pass?
It’ a fascinating possibility for the Browns, a low-risk gamble with a potentially high reward. It bears noting that Green has been in college for five seasons, and his judgment and risk-taking propensity has been in question all along. He did not improve it much, though, so it’s fair to wonder whether the Browns would have better luck.
But as Dane Brugler, the NFL draft guru for The Athletic, notes, Taylen Green is “one of the most physically gifted players in the 2026 draft class (at any position), Green is big, athletic and competes with NFL-required toughness. He is a playmaker outside the pocket (with both his arm and legs), and his highlight package is full of ‘wow’ moments.
“However, he is inconsistent working through his reads, and you hold your breath every time he throws over the middle.”
Browns Predicted to Add ‘Incredibly Rare’ 6-Foot-6 Quarterback