With the 2024 season in the rear view mirror, NFL fans’ attention turns squarely to the 2025 NFL Draft, which will be held between April 24 and 26. After a disastrous season, the Cleveland Browns hold the second overall pick.
State of the Union
It might be impossible to overstate how much of a disaster the Browns’ season was. Cleveland lost 13 of its last 15 games, and starting quarterback Deshaun Watson — who already owned arguably the worst contract in NFL history — tore his Achilles and then, while rehabbing it in January, tore it again. The Browns have no way of getting off Watson’s contract, as he’ll count for $72.7 million against their salary cap in 2025, and they have no realistic way of playing him ever again. Never mind his horrific off-the-field conduct; Watson was arguably the worst quarterback in the NFL prior to his injury.
The numbers were disgusting — Watson had the league’s highest sack percentage and the league’s lowest adjusted net yards per attempt figure. Cleveland’s only victory after the bye came in Week 12 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but its other seven games after the bye all ended in multi-possession losses. The Browns started four different quarterbacks — Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Bailey Zappe — and none were very good, even if Winston was probably the most entertaining. At least wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, defensive end Myles Garrett, and cornerback Denzel Ward made the Pro Bowl. But what was already a disaster turned into a tragedy, as Garrett — the 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year — requested a trade.
Cleveland faces a difficult road to turning it around. The Browns are $22.8 million over the cap, and they play in arguably the NFL’s most difficult division. The Baltimore Ravens are led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry — the best teammate he has ever played with — and show no signs of ceding their grip on the top of the division any time soon, and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin has finished .500 or better in every season of his career. Plus, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson should never be counted out, as long as Zac Taylor remembers that the season starts in September, not October.
Potential Departures
Myles Garrett – A six-time All-Pro honoree, Garrett has been the best player the team has had since it was resuscitated as a franchise prior the 1999 season. In his eight-year career, Garrett has amassed 352 tackles, 20 forced fumbles, and a franchise-record 102.5 sacks, and is a virtual shoo-in to eventually be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He even garnered MVP votes in 2023, becoming only the 10th defensive player since 2000 to receive consideration for the NFL’s highest honor. His departure would be a huge loss; backup Ogbo Okoronkwo was the fourth-lowest graded edge defender among 119 qualified players at Pro Football Focus.
Jameis Winston – To Winston’s credit, he might be the most entertaining player in the NFL, from his highlight-reel throws to his equally dumbfounding interceptions to his headline-worthy interviews. He filled in capably when Watson went down, completing 61.1% of his passes for 2,121 yards and 13 touchdowns, but he also threw 12 interceptions in just 12 games (seven starts). The 2015 first overall pick is just three seasons removed from a 2021 season in which he led the New Orleans Saints to a 5-2 record and threw for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just three picks before tearing his ACL in Week 7. A team desperate for a signal-caller might take a shot on him as a bridge quarterback.
Nick Chubb – Chubb has made the Pro Bowl in four of his first seven seasons with the Browns, but his 2023 season ended with a gruesome knee injury and his 2024 season with a broken foot. In Cleveland, he has taken his 1,340 carries for 6,483 yards and 51 touchdowns, and his career average of 5.1 yards per carry is the fourth-highest among running backs in NFL history. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets as a 29-year-old running back with three major leg injuries, but the Browns expect him to test free agency and Watson’s contract hamstrings their ability to bring him back.
Elijah Moore – Moore started the season as Cleveland’s number three receiver behind Jeudy and Amari Cooper, but the Browns sent Cooper to the Buffalo Bills prior to the trade deadline, earning the 24-year-old a promotion. Although he was up-and-down, he had his flashes — an eight-catch, 85-yard performance against the Ravens in Week 8 and an eight-catch, 111-yard performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 13, both of which came with Winston at the helm. Those two outbursts were the only times he reached 50 yards in any game, though, and his 59.8% catch rate was the 47th-lowest among 249 qualified receivers. He might get some interest in a relatively weak wide receiver free agency class.
Team Needs
Quarterback – With the second overall pick, Cleveland is in a great position to draft its quarterback of the future, even if it won’t be able to get Watson off the roster. Since it resumed play, it has started 40 different quarterbacks, and it’ll likely select its 41st signal-caller with the second overall pick. Obviously, Watson was a disaster, and Winston wasn’t much better. That’s not to mention Thompson-Robinson — who has thrown one touchdown pass and 10 interceptions across 15 appearances (five starts) with the team — and Zappe, who posted just a 19.6 QBR in his sole start in Week 18.
Edge Rusher – Garrett is almost certainly gone, and even the reigning champion Philadelphia Eagles reportedly have interest in acquiring his services. With Garrett, the Browns’ pass rush was a relative strength, as they recorded the third-highest pressure rate in the league last season. Okoronkwo had just three pressures all season, so replacing Garrett needs to be one of Cleveland’s top priorities. The AFC North, with Jackson, Burrow, and a still-to-be-named Steelers starter, is rife with elusive quarterbacks, and the Browns cannot afford to give them a clean pocket.
Running Back – If Cleveland can’t re-sign Chubb, it needs to invest heavily in its running back room. Third-year back Jerome Ford was the Browns’ primary option while Chubb was sidelined for the first six games of the season, and while he was fairly efficient, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, Cleveland could still benefit from an upgrade. D’Onta Foreman, the Browns’ other running back option, had an inefficient season and failed to find the end zone, and at 28 years old, he’s pushing the end of his prime.
Offensive Line – The fact that Watson led the league in sack percentage is primarily his fault, but his offensive line didn’t help, either. Cleveland ranked as the sixth-worst pass-blocking offensive line in the league, per Pro Football Focus, as well as the third-worst run-blocking line. By the time the season starts, right tackle Jack Conklin — a two-time All-Pro honoree — guards Joel Bitinio and Wyatt Teller, and center Ethan Pocic will all be 30 years old or older. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has suffered season-ending injuries in each of the past two seasons.
Secondary – Besides Ward, who made the Pro Bowl, the Browns don’t have a lot of secondary options. According to PFF, they were the worst tackling team in the entire league, as well as the fourth-worst coverage unit. Cleveland allowed the fifth-highest yards per attempt average in the NFL and intercepted the fewest passes. Martin Emerson, Cameron Mitchell, and Greg Newsome II all ranked in the league’s 11 worst among 116 qualified cornerbacks. This season, opposing quarterbacks had a 112.5 passer rating when targeting Newsome.
Potential Picks
Cam Ward, QB, Miami – With the second overall pick, the Browns will be guaranteed — at minimum — their pick between Ward and Shedeur Sanders, a former Colorado signal-caller. Ward is currently a -200 favorite to go first overall in the draft to the Tennessee Titans, but if Tennessee opts for Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter or Sanders, Ward could easily end up in Cleveland. His ability to complete passes to all areas of the field makes him one of the draft’s most enticing prospect, as well as his quick release. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has spoken positively of both Ward and Sanders.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado – If the Titans select Ward with the first pick, Cleveland should be happy to settle for Sanders, who’s a confident pocket passer and excellent leader who is capable of making quick throws when he needs to. Although he might struggle playing behind the Browns offensive line, thanks to his limited mobility, Sanders is a patient and technically solid passer. While Ward’s mobility may give him the higher ceiling, Sanders has a higher floor.
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State – Carter didn’t participate in the combine thanks to a stress fracture in his right foot that may force him to undergo surgery, which may ward Tennessee off selecting him with the first overall pick. Carter is the most talented player in the class, a six-foot-three, 250-pound, highly athletic edge rusher who should immediately be an upgrade over Okoronkwo if Garrett leaves. He had 12 sacks and 23.5 tackles for a loss in his senior season with the Nittany Lions, the latter of which led the FBS.
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado – The Heisman Trophy winner isn’t necessarily a perfect fit, given that two of the three Pro Bowlers played at Hunter’s two positions, but Cleveland needs talent all over the board, and Hunter is exceptionally talented. His elite athleticism and ball skills make him a top prospect on either side of the ball, although he has better technique and higher upside as a cornerback, so that’s probably where he’ll spend most of his time in the NFL. He could either start opposite Denzel Ward or replace him if he requests a trade.
Will Campbell, OL, LSU – Although his 32-inch arms are a cause for concern, the six-foot-six Campbell has enough size and talent to be a top pick in June. Although he’s less than perfect in pass protection, he’s an elite run blocker, which the Browns desperately need. Campbell would add youth and agility to an aging offensive line. I opted for him instead of a top tackle prospect like Kelvin Banks Jr. or Armand Membou because I’m less concerned about Conklin’s regression or Wells’ injuries as I am about Bitinio and Teller.
