Penn State's Drew Allar had a meeting with the Cleveland Browns at the combine.
Getty
Penn State's Drew Allar had a meeting with the Cleveland Browns at the combine.
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 NFL Draft with the same question they’ve been asking for the better part of two decades: who is their quarterback?
New head coach Todd Monken has declared an open competition at the position and general manager Andrew Berry has made clear the team is looking at all their options externally.
One name that has surfaced in connection with Cleveland is Penn State’s Drew Allar. He sat down with Cleveland for an informal interview at the combine.
“I met with the Browns as an informal interview,” Allar said. “So, yeah, that one went really well. So I actually know the quarterback coach from high school recruiting. He was the OC/quarterback coach at Northwestern when I was coming out of high school. So I was familiar with him going into that meeting.”
And for Allar, he has a personal connection to the Browns and Cleveland.
“I mean, yeah, I think any team or any opportunity that I have to play in the NFL would be a dream come true,” Allar said. “I mean, that one would be really cool and surreal just because I grew up going to Browns games and grew up a Browns fan, but any opportunity that I have is one that I won’t take for granted.”
Allar is not the only quarterback with links to the Browns’ coaching staff. Monken already has a notable prior relationship with another top QB in this class, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, whom he recruited while at Georgia. Monken also has a long history with Carson Beck and coached him at Georgia.
What Drew Allar Showed at the Combine
One of the biggest questions hanging over Allar in his pre-draft process is about his health. He suffered a broken left ankle against Northwestern in October, was carted off the field, and hadn’t thrown competitively since. Four months removed from surgery, he took the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for throwing drills and had an encouraging showing.
On the broadcast, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah called Allar a “big, big strong pocket passer” with a “live arm. Allar told reporters earlier in the week that he believed he had the best arm in the draft class.
“I personally do think I do,” he said. “I’m not saying that out of cockiness or anything like that. It’s just something I truly believe in.”
The 6-foot-5, 228-pound prospect finished his Penn State career with 7,402 passing yards and 61 touchdowns, both third in program history. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. still ranks him No. 3 among quarterbacks in this class.
The Browns’ Quarterback Room Is Still a Mess
Cleveland’s quarterback situation remains one of the murkiest in the NFL. Berry laid out clear expectations for Sanders at the combine, calling for “continued growth” while stopping well short of naming him the starter.
Watson has appeared in just 19 games since Cleveland sent three first-round picks to Houston and handed him $230 million in fully guaranteed money in 2022. Berry confirmed Watson will get his shot to compete. Meanwhile, third-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel remains in the mix as well, though his long-term future with the franchise is murky at best.
The Browns have also explored outside additions. Cleveland was among the teams expected topursue free agent Malik Willis heavily, though recent reports indicate the deal is unlikely to happen. Berry has not ruled out additions through the draft either, and with 10 picks in the 2026 draft, including selections at No. 6, No. 24, and No. 39, the Browns have plenty of ammunition to address multiple needs.
The Browns are not expected to use the No. 6 or No. 24 overall pick on a quarterback. But investing a Day 2 or Day 3 selection on a developmental quarterback with Allar’s ceiling is the kind of low-risk, high-upside move. The NFL Draft begins April 23 in Pittsburgh.