The Cleveland Browns desperately need a quarterback. In a rare moment of candidness, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admitted that the team’s $230 million investment in Deshaun Watson was “a big swing and miss.”
Now, with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland has a chance to land their QB of the future. But will they pull the trigger on a signal-caller or opt to go with a generational talent like Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter?
Browns Predicted To Select Abdul Carter Rather Than Shedeur Sanders
In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, NFL draft analyst Reese Decker wanted to see how the draft board would play out if both the Browns and New York Giants decide to pass on a quarterback with the No. 2 and No. 3 picks.
“Quarterbacks shape the flow of the NFL Draft more than any other position. Right now, it feels like both Cleveland and New York are leaning away from selecting one at the top, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter added fuel to that belief earlier this week,” Decker wrote. “Les Snead echoed a similar sentiment on ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ saying, ‘We will see the least amount of quarterbacks selected in the first round in a long time.’
“Mock drafts are valuable tools for testing how different scenarios could impact the board. In this one, we’re operating under the assumption that both Cleveland and New York pass on quarterbacks early and that Aaron Rodgers could be leading a win-now Pittsburgh team in 2025.”
With that in mind, Decker has the Browns selecting Carter to form a dominant pass-rushing one-two punch with Myles Garrett.
“Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam stole the show at the league meetings this week when he publicly acknowledged that the Deshaun Watson trade was a swing and a miss. Without a doubt, Cleveland will be heavily involved in the quarterback sweepstakes,” Decker wrote.
“With [Cam] Ward off the board, the second overall pick is a bit rich for the likes of Shedeur Sanders, especially when a blue-chip prospect at a premier position sits atop the board. Abdul Carter is a blue-chip talent with elite pass-rushing ability and positional versatility. The 6’3″, 251-pound edge rusher made the switch from inside linebacker to full-time edge defender for Penn State in 2024 and thrived.
“He’s an explosive disruptor with elite get-off speed, and when he keeps his pad level low, he’s nearly unblockable. Lining him up opposite of Myles Garrett gives the Browns a dynamic boost and a true defensive identity.”
A unanimous All-American and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, Carter took the country by storm in his first year as a true pass rusher, posting career highs in sacks and tackles for losses.
So, what does Decker have the Browns doing to address the quarterback position? Well, given how this mock draft played out, Cleveland actually managed to land Sanders at No. 33 overall — the first pick of the second round.
If Sanders slips, his floor is probably the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 or the end of the first round (assuming a team would trade up to snag him if he falls). However, if he does fall to No. 33 overall, that would be the dream for the Browns, as they would land a pair of potential superstars at the two most important positions.
If the Browns opt to take Carter at No. 2 overall and Sanders doesn’t make it to them, they could opt to trade for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has a close relationship with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski dating back to their time together on the Minnesota Vikings.
Carter’s Scouting Report Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
Former NFL scout and current PFSN draft analyst Brentley Weissman raved about Carter in his scouting report.
“Carter is one of the more fascinating prospects to enter the draft in quite some time. He is a former linebacker who always flashed high-end athleticism and traits but was definitely playing a position that limited his upside. His move to a full-time pass rusher this season really showed just what type of player he can be and has allowed him to develop into an elite prospect.
“Carter has good overall size but just average length for an edge defender. He is an outstanding overall athlete with a rare blend of speed, burst, and agility that allows him to be a game-wrecker as a pass rusher. Carter is a versatile player who can align all across the defensive front. He is best when he is rushing from a wide alignment, where he can use his speed to win the edge quickly and get around the tackle nearly untouched.
“Defensive coordinators will love the ability to move Carter around and create favorable matchups. There’s a lot to like about Carter as a pass rusher. He displays an explosive first step to threaten the edges of the blocker almost instantly. Getting hands on Carter is extremely challenging, as he is so quick off the ball when going vertically but also displays outstanding lateral quickness to make the blocker miss with his hands and gain a clear path to the QB.
“Carter is a speed rusher who plays with a relentless motor. His speed makes it nearly impossible for opposing quarterbacks to get away from him when he is closing down in pursuit, and he makes a ton of plays late in the down by never giving up on his rush. Carter has a little tightness in his lower half but still shows the ability to bend and corner at the top of his rush and is an excellent finisher.
“While Carter is a highly disruptive rusher due to his speed and explosiveness, he does lack prototypical length that you would like to see from a high-end pass rusher. His lack of length allows longer tackles to get their hands into his chest to stop his forward momentum and stymie his rush. Furthermore, Carter isn’t a very dense player, and while he flashes ability converting speed to power, he isn’t a player who can win consistently with his bull rush.
“Similar to his work against the pass, Carter excels versus the run game with his speed, quickness, and motor. He is hard to square up for oncoming blockers because he is so agile and can easily evade blocks and make the tackle. He is outstanding in pursuit and has excellent range as a defender due to his straight-line speed. He is also a violent tackler and a player who looks to dislodge the football upon contact.
“When on the edge or off the ball, Carter does struggle to get off blocks at times when an offensive lineman get hands on him. He lacks the power at the point of attack to consistently set a firm edge and wouldn’t be asked to play on the strong side of an even front. While his athleticism allows him to win in the run game, this is not a player who’s likely to hold up well against a team that runs directly at him down after down.
“Overall, Carter is a rare athlete, even for NFL standards, and has the potential to be a true difference-making pass rusher. He needs to continue working on getting stronger and getting off of blocks, but as long as the team who drafts him understands his skill set and where he wins best, there’s little reason to believe he won’t be an immediate impact player at the next level.”