Browns Urged to Target Arch Manning, Nick Saban for Massive Reset

If the Cleveland Browns stumble through another disappointing season, the franchise could be headed for a major shake-up, both on the sidelines and under center.

The move, pitched by Colin Cowherd, involves college football royalty on both the sideline and under center. Cowherd floated the idea of the Browns becoming a potential landing spot for legendary coach Nick Saban and Texas quarterback Arch Manning, should both be available and interested in making the leap to the NFL next season.

“Nick’s an SEC guy, knows the Manning family well. If Arch Manning plays well, if he plays it like a B+, A- level, he’s going No. 1 in the draft,” Cowherd said on “The Herd” on Friday. “Cleveland, very likely, is going to be the worst team in the league. Nobody’s going to lose sleep with that. Arch Manning in Cleveland? The owner is Jimmy Haslam, a huge SEC, Tennessee booster who loves headlines? Baker [Mayfield], Johnny Manziel, Deshaun Watson at his own peril?

“Arch Manning and Nick Saban make the Cleveland Browns, for an owner who loves chasing headlines, the most interesting team in the NFL. Not saying the best. They would be the most interesting team in the NFL. So, I mean, we’re going to have six, seven new openings. I’m guaranteeing you right now, if Nick is interested, half those teams call him.”

Nick Saban Unlikely to Return to Coaching

There are a lot of “ifs” involved in Cowherd’s hypothetical reboot for the Browns. The most important is that Saban returning — especially for an NFL opporutnity with the Browns — is unlikely.

Saban, 73, retired from Alabama following the 2023 season after a decorated career that included seven national championships. Rumors around Saban’s return took life this week when one of his former quarterbacks, Greg McElroy, hinted that a comeback might be in the works.

“A very much in-the-know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around, and just really, really admire — they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching,” McElroy said during a radio interview. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again.”

The speculation ran rampant but Saban’s daughter, Kristen, was quick to shut down the rumors.

https://x.com/Andy_Staples/status/1945954561274806601

“Apparently some of y’all feel trolled by my last story of Nick’s walkout,” she wrote in a social media post. “He’s not coming back to coaching, hate to break it to you. You had your time.”

Browns Under Pressure to Resolve QB Situaiton

With uncertainty lingering under center and two first-round picks in the 2026 draft, the Browns could face mounting quarterback speculation if they fail to show progress this season.

The team is staging a four-man quarterback competition featuring veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, along with rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Gabriel, a third-round pick, and Sanders, selected at No. 144 overall in the fifth round,

While the Browns aim to stay competitive, they must also evaluate whether either rookie can emerge as a viable franchise quarterback. If they come to the conclusion that they can’t, they’ll likely use their draft capital next year to find one.

Rookies reported to training camp on July 18, with veterans set to arrive early next week as preparations ramp up. The Browns will open their preseason slate on Aug. 8 against the Carolina Panthers.