The Cleveland Browns are… well, they’re lost.
The franchise looked to be on the upswing as recently as 2023, when Kevin Stefanski won Coach of the Year, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz won Assistant Coach of the Year, Myles Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year, and Joe Flacco won Comeback Player of the Year. That squad made it to the playoffs — just the third time for the franchise since returning to Cleveland in 1999 — but fell short in the Wild Card Round.
Then, 2024 went as off the rails, which is a not-so-unusual occurrence in the Dawg Pound over the last 25 years. Maligned quarterback Deshaun Watson got hurt (again), playing in just seven contests as the team proceeded to go 3-14.
Though they re-signed Garrett to a market-setting deal, the offseason hasn’t otherwise been notable in Cleveland. They’ve signed some offensive line and front-seven depth on defense, but the transaction that made the most headlines was the team’s trade for backup quarterback Kenny Pickett.
That’s not ideal for a franchise in desperate need of a facelift.
Luckily, the Browns have the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. If this roster is ever going to get an infusion of big-time talent, now is the time.
Browns Projected To Take Shedeur Sanders, Omarion Hampton
In the latest PFSN mock draft, the Browns — who own the second overall pick and first pick in the second round (33rd overall) in the 2025 draft — are projected to give Stefanski’s offense an overhaul.
With Cam Ward off the board, PFSN’s Owain Jones expects Cleveland to take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the second pick in the draft.
Needing a cheap upgrade over Watson, it’s obvious why Cleveland would target Sanders. The Buffaloes quarterback may have the most translatable skill set to succeed as a rookie due to his accuracy, processing, and game manager play style.
Sanders is coming off a dominant season, leading the Big 12 in completion rate (74.0%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). With Watson and Pickett also on the depth chart, he could sit for a few months while learning the NFL ropes, or he could take over the starting gig right away with reinforcements behind him in case he struggles early on.
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Cleveland’s offensive makeover doesn’t end there, though. With the 33rd pick, the Browns are expected to pick North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. After Ashton Jeanty, Hampton is the emerging as the consensus second-best running back in the class.
In PFSN’s scouting report on Hampton, the running back is lauded for his vision and patience in the backfield, as well as his ability to shrug off tacklers. However, his explosiveness is in question, and there’s belief the UNC product won’t be a home run threat at the next level.
Luckily, that wouldn’t be a big deal for a Cleveland team that’s used to watching Nick Chubb grind out yards on the ground. Since Chubb remains a free agent, Hampton could step in as the team’s No. 1 back immediately, likely splitting duties with third-down back Jerome Ford.
It wouldn’t solve all that ails the Browns’ franchise, but Sanders and Hampton would be a nice start in getting the organization back to a good place, at least on the offensive side of the ball.