ClutchPoints
For the Cleveland Browns, the 2025-26 College Football Playoff won’t just be must-watch television. It will be a glimpse into a possible reset. With the 2025 season unraveling and playoff dreams long extinguished, Cleveland’s attention has shifted from damage control to talent acquisition. The Browns are staring at another inflection point. The upcoming CFP offers a rare stage to evaluate elite prospects against elite competition. For a franchise searching for answers at quarterback, wide receiver, and along the offensive line, this playoff field may as well be a live audition.
The Browns’ 2025 campaign has been defined by frustration, injuries, and hard truths. A humiliating 31–3 Week 15 loss to the Chicago Bears dropped Cleveland to 3–11. That officially confirmed what had been obvious for weeks: this season was no longer about competing. With Deshaun Watson sidelined and Joe Flacco traded away, the Browns used the back half of the year to evaluate young quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. However, the results have been more sobering rather than encouraging.
Against Chicago, the offense collapsed entirely. Behind a battered offensive line, Sanders struggled mightily. He tossed three interceptions as the Browns failed to generate rhythm, protection, or confidence. The coaching staff has been clear-eyed about the situation. Watson is expected to remain on the roster in 2026 due to the financial impossibility of moving on. That doesn’t mean, though, that Cleveland can afford to stop searching for answers. Whether it’s insurance, competition, or a long-term succession plan, the Browns must come out of the 2026 draft with legitimate offensive building blocks.
This is not a luxury evaluation cycle for the Browns. It’s a necessity. Cleveland owns premium draft capital and must use it wisely, particularly on offense. The CFP offers front offices the clearest evaluation environment possible. They will see elite prospects under maximum pressure, facing NFL-caliber schemes and opponents. For a team that has struggled to translate regular-season college dominance into pro success, these games matter.
Cleveland’s scouting department will be locked in on quarterbacks who can process quickly. Tey should also look at receivers who can separate against top defensive backs and linemen who can survive speed and power. The Browns need talented players who won’t wilt.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Browns’ must-see NFL Draft targets in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff.
If the Browns are serious about changing their offensive trajectory, Fernando Mendoza demands their full attention. The Indiana quarterback enters the playoff as one of the most polished passers in the country. He is a legitimate contender to be the first player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza’s 2025 season was historic. He currently has nearly 3,000 passing yards, a nation-leading 33 touchdowns, and just six interceptions while guiding Indiana to a Big Ten title.
What makes Mendoza especially intriguing for Cleveland is how clean his game is. He wins with...
