Berry noted there are three realistic paths to a quarterback addition: drafting one early in the process, drafting a rookie later in the draft, or pursuing a trade. He reiterated the current setup with Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson, with Dillon Gabriel on the roster, and suggested any upgrade would be weighed against the broader goal of strengthening the roster.
An early-draft move would involve selecting the first quarterback off the board, such as Alabama’s Ty Simpson, at one of the Browns’ top three picks (Nos. 6, 24 or 39). He added that the team may prefer to bolster other areas first, implying that a major draft investment at quarterback might wait if it isn’t the right fit.
Another route is adding a quarterback in the later rounds. With nine total selections, Cleveland could target a QB in rounds 5–7 (Nos. 146–248), looking at candidates who underperformed in 2025 or were previously viewed as potential first-round picks, including names like Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik and Drew Allar.
A trade remains a possibility but is regarded as less likely. While Berry didn’t close the door to a move, he said the team would consider options that help the roster and move it forward, even if a quarterback trade isn’t the preferred path.
Berry also pushed back on the notion of a “2027 quarterback class myth,” noting that the quarterback class for this year has potential and that any assessment should come from current season performance rather than projections about the next cycle.
In summary, the Browns will weigh quarterback options against immediate roster needs, leveraging their nine draft selections and any strategic trades, all while evaluating whether a quarterback addition best serves the team’s short-term goals and long-term plans.
