CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Jets’ shocking trade deadline fire sale wasn’t just about waving the white flag on 2025 — it was the opening salvo in what could become an intense bidding war with the Cleveland Browns for a franchise quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, the Cleveland.com team broke down how the Jets’ deadline deals put them on a direct collision course with the Browns in the upcoming draft, where both franchises will be desperately hunting for their quarterback of the future.
“The corollary to this whole Jets thing is the fact that, when you look at the other side of this, the fact that the Jets are now really well-positioned to grab the best quarterback in this draft potentially,” said Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot on the podcast. “It’s going to be the Browns and the Jets probably and a couple of other teams vying for the top one, two or three quarterbacks in the upcoming draft.”
The Jets are 1-7 while the Browns sit at 2-6. But what makes this situation particularly dangerous for Cleveland is how the Jets have positioned themselves with draft capital after their deadline moves.
“And who knows? They could outbid the Cleveland Browns and swipe their quarterback out from underneath them,” Cabot warned. “So the Browns are going to have to really be careful about their draft plans and what quarterback they like. It’s going to be a little bit of a donnybrook, I think, in April when it comes to trying to go after these quarterbacks.”
The podcast team highlighted how the quarterback draft landscape is shaping up, with the Titans a potential target for a move up, since they hope to already have their QB of the future in Cam Ward. Teams like the Saints and potentially the Dolphins are also in the mix alongside the Jets and Browns.
“We’ve reached that point in the season now where we’ve got to talk about that,” said host Dan Labbe.
What makes this brewing conflict particularly intriguing is that neither team has a clear advantage at this stage. The Browns do possess two first-round picks in the 2025 draft — a significant asset in any potential trade-up scenario. But now the Jets have accumulated additional draft capital that could give them similar leverage.
The fascinating subplot to Sunday’s Browns-Jets matchup is that the loser might actually become the winner in terms of draft positioning. It adds another layer to what was already a compelling game after the Jets traded away several defensive stars including Quinnen Williams.
For Browns fans, this represents a critical juncture for the franchise. With their quarterback future uncertain, Cleveland’s pursuit of a franchise quarterback in the 2026 draft could define the organization’s trajectory for years to come.
The battle lines have been drawn. The Jets have made their move, stockpiling ammunition for April’s draft. The question now is how the Browns will counter as both franchises position themselves for a potential franchise-altering quarterback selection.
Want to hear the full discussion about the brewing Browns-Jets quarterback draft battle? Listen to the complete Orange and Brown Talk podcast episode for more insights on how this developing rivalry could shape both franchises’ futures.
Here’s the latest podcast:
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