The Deshaun Watson trade set the Cleveland Browns back quite a bit. But thanks to some luck, they’ve got a chance to move forward in the 2025 NFL Draft. Watson is expected to miss the 2025 season with an injury, leaving a massive hole at quarterback — and Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall pick.
They’ve already locked in star pass rusher Myles Garrett, who re-signed as the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history (and at the time of the deal, he held the top spot). Now, the Browns could reshape the future of their franchise in the draft. And the latest rumors suggest they’ve found their target for Day 1.
Cleveland Browns Have Their Sights Set on Cam Ward
In Watson’s three seasons with Cleveland, the Browns have made the playoffs just once. That lone trip came when Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year and led a dominant unit that carried the team. Meanwhile, Watson’s production has ranged from average to disappointing.
With the draft approaching and Watson sidelined, the Browns appear ready to move on — with Cam Ward in their sights.
Ward finished the 2024 season with 4,313 passing yards and 43 total touchdowns, while throwing just seven interceptions. He led the Miami Hurricanes to a 10-3 season — their first 10-win season since 2017.
Ward is widely projected as the top signal-caller in the 2025 NFL Draft, and could be the kind of player who turns a franchise around.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared the latest from Cleveland’s camp on “Get Up.”
“When you talk to people around the league, the sense is that Cleveland would like Cam Ward.” Still, that may not be possible unless they make a major move.
“I think Cam Ward is going to be the number one pick. Unless Cleveland trades up to one, I don’t think it’s gonna get Cam Ward.”
“When you talk to people around the league, the sense is that Cleveland would like Cam Ward.” Adam Schefter: pic.twitter.com/2rEo21KWV1
— Grant Puskar (@grant_puskar_) March 20, 2025
If that plays out, the Browns — who finished with the worst quarterback play in the league last season, according to PFSN’s QB+ metric — may have to pivot. Schefter says they’d take the top player on their board instead.
“And in which case, I think Cleveland goes either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. And if they go for one of those guys, then that leaves Shedeur Sanders sitting there at No. 3 for the New York Giants.”
That scenario matches the latest mock draft from PFSN, which has the Titans selecting Ward at No. 1, forcing Cleveland to shift their focus to Penn State’s Abdul Carter.
That move would further solidify their defense and leave Sanders available for the Giants at No. 3.