The Cleveland Browns own the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and with the draft quickly approaching, fans and analysts are starting to key in on what could happen at the top of the draft.
Their pick could be where the intrigue and drama truly begins.
Browns Could Shake Up 2025 NFL Draft With No. 2 Pick
The Browns had a horrific season in 2024. Cleveland stumbled to a 3-14 finish this past campaign. This is especially disappointing given the team’s inspiring run to the postseason the year prior.
Cleveland has made some moves in NFL free agency, but none of these moves have significantly shaken up the roster. For example, defensive tackle Malik Collins and offensive guard Teven Jenkins are solid additions, but neither is a game-changer.
Where the Browns could find a true difference-maker is in the 2025 NFL Draft. Currently, the Tennessee Titans are rumored to favor quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick, which could leave the Browns with some very intriguing options.
Quarterback is very much on the table for this team. Cleveland has Deshaun Watson and Kenny Pickett on the roster, however, Watson is likely to miss most of the 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery in January.
Beyond that, neither Watson nor Pickett represents long-term options under center for the Browns. With this in mind, they could look to someone such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders who could learn behind one of the veterans in 2025 before taking the reins in 2026.
There is also a chance they decide against taking a quarterback. In PFSN’s latest mock draft, the Browns went with Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
“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,” PFSN contributor Reese Decker wrote of the pick.
Cleveland moving away from selecting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft seems to be a growing trend. The Browns are also rumored to be interested in Colorado’s Travis Hunter, for example.
Additionally, on Sunday, a prominent NFL insider suggested that the team may not take a signal-caller with the No. 2 pick.
NFL Insider Reveals Browns’ Thinking With No. 2 Pick
Senior NFL insider Dianna Russini appeared on the Scoop City Podcast on Sunday. The conversation trended toward the NFL Draft. And she eventually discussed how the Browns’ thinking has evolved since the end of the regular season.
“I really think the Cleveland Browns are going to be the team to decide what the heck goes down in this draft. Shedeur Sanders? Perhaps they’re in on him. Or they’ve got a Kirk Cousins thing going. Early offseason, I thought, ‘Oh, they’re going quarterback. It just makes so much sense.’ I had some conversations in Cleveland. It was very apparent, its quarterback. Now, it’s shifting. Now that I’m back from (the Owners Meeting), it’s shifting,” Russini said on Sunday.
Of course, none of this rules out the possibility of selecting a quarterback at No. 2. The Browns certainly have a need at the position, and it may be more beneficial to draft the guy they want at that spot rather than risk him falling to them later.
However, the non-quarterback options available are hard to ignore. There are players who could make a significant impact for the Browns in 2025 and beyond. That’s something the team needs to seriously consider before they’re on the clock in a few weeks.