A recent mock draft has the Cleveland Browns selecting a game-wrecking defensive end and a strong-armed quarterback with their first two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Browns Add A Dawg To Defensive Line In 2025 NFL Draft
In his mock draft for PFSN, analyst Reese Decker has the Browns picking Penn State’s Abdul Carter with the second overall pick. Decker notes, “Carter is a blue-chip talent with elite pass-rushing ability and positional versatility. The 6-foot-3, 251-pound edge rusher transitioned from inside linebacker to full-time edge defender for Penn State in 2024 and thrived.”
Decker added, “(Carter’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 Myles Garrett? That’s a nightmare for opposing offenses.”
The Browns’ decision to select Abdul Carter in the first round is a testament to their focus on building a formidable defense and should help appease Garrett, who expressed his desire to play for a Super Bowl contender in his request to be traded. Garrett ended up signing an extension with Cleveland as the Browns seek to climb out of the basement in the AFC.
This pick also highlights the uncertainty surrounding quarterback prospects available at top of the draft. Rather than reaching for a flawed QB who would need a longer runway to develop, they secure best player available, ensuring an immediate impact on defense.
Browns Take A Flyer On Resilient Passer In Round 2
As Decker mentioned in his three-round mock draft, “Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and the Cleveland Browns being stuck in quarterback purgatory. Once again, they find themselves near the top of the draft, searching for a signal-caller. They could take a gamble on a quarterback (at pick No. 2 overall)—if one even wants to play for them—but the smarter move is right in front of them.”
Decker continued with, “The drop-off from Shedeur Sanders to guys like Jaxson Dart or Tyler Shough, who could be taken later as a flier, isn’t significant enough to justify reaching.”
With that in mind, Decker predicted the Browns get their quarterback in the second round, picking Louisville’s 25-year-old seventh-year senior Tyler Shough. Though not widely considered a top-tier prospect, Shough offers potential as a developmental project.
At the 2025 Scouting Combine, Shough ranked sixth among quarterback prospects in athleticism with a score of 76. His prospect grade of 6.16 means Shough will most likely be a “good backup with the potential to develop into starter”. That grade is the fourth highest among the 2025 class of QBs, just below Jaxson Dart, whose stock has skyrocketed since the Senior Bowl.
In his scouting report, Decker noted that Shough, “can layer throws. Can put it on a line, drop it in a bucket, and has the touch to drop the ball anywhere,” adding, “Has no problem sticking in the face of pressure to deliver a strike with precision,” and, “Doesn’t play scared despite injury history.”
The Browns’ draft strategy outlined in the mock draft emphasized a commitment to building a well-rounded team. By prioritizing defense in the first round and tending to quarterback needs in the second, Cleveland balances immediate impact with long-term development. This measured approach calls for patience in finding a franchise quarterback, bucking their track record of tossing fresh faces and young guns to the wolves.
If the Browns could get their defense back to being the top unit in the league, like it was in 2023, Cleveland can contend in the highly competitive AFC North, regardless of who’s taking snaps.
