The Cleveland Browns will have some interesting choices with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
The Cleveland Browns fell apart throughout the 2024 season, dropping their final six games to finish 3-14. In many seasons, that would be bad enough to earn the top pick in the NFL draft, but this year it only merits the No. 2 spot for the Browns and GM Andrew Berry. The Tennessee Titans also finished 3-14 and earned the tie-break for the top spot, leaving the Browns picking second overall.
It’s hard to know what exactly the Titans will do with that top pick, but if Tennessee sticks at No. 1, they figure to at least strongly consider a quarterback. An offensive-minded head coach in Brian Callahan and the unreliability and spotty development of incumbent starter Will Levis make a quarterback at the top spot a very distinct probability.
Cleveland has a ton of needs, but — like Tennessee above them — none is more critical than quarterback. Deshaun Watson remains in injury-related limbo, only still on the roster because of an insanely expensive contract for the Browns to extract themselves from eating. Jameis Winston is a free agent, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe each proved they shouldn’t start above being a No. 3 option entering the offseason.
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Shortly after their season ended, the Browns fired their offensive coordinator and OL coach. Those spots will need to be filled quickly so the organization can more accurately assess what players might no longer fit, or what schematic preference head coach Kevin Stefanski wants with his offense.
Expect a ton of Cleveland draft scrutiny on the presumptive top two QBs, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward from Miami. There is considerable debate about the merits of either prospect being taken by anyone that high in the draft, but QBs tend to rise regardless of merit–especially early (pre-Combine) in the draft process.
This will be the Browns’ first first-round pick since taking CB Greg Newsome in 2021, thanks to the Watson trade. Between the lack of high-end draft assets and some misses in the middle rounds from GM Berry and his scouting staff (Anthony Schwartz, David Bell, Cade York, Perrion Winfrey to name a few), the overall depth chart needs help.
That could portend a trade for additional picks, a more intriguing possibility if the Browns decide that the quarterback(s) are not to their appeal. The Giants and Jets are also picking high and appear desperate for QB help, and either New York squad might be willing to cough up some extra picks to ensure they get whichever quarterback they desire.
Cleveland could also build up the lines, both of which can use some high-end reinforcement. Michigan DT Mason Graham, LSU OT Will Campbell and EDGEs Abdul Carter from Penn State and Mykel Williams of Georgia all make sense as projections.
Then there’s Travis Hunter. The Heisman winner might be the best player in the draft regardless of position, and he can play two of them–WR and CB–at a very high level.
It should be a fun and interesting few months for Browns fans in considering all their options, which is something Cleveland hasn’t had in the draft in a few years.
