The Cleveland Browns will be experiencing a new sensation in the 2025 NFL Draft as the team will be making a selection in the first round for the first time since selecting cornerback Greg Newsome II in 2021.
Related: Cleveland Browns NFL Draft Profiles
The Browns currently hold the No. 2 overall selection and nine picks overall, giving general manager Andrew Berry plenty to work with as he looks to reshape the roster of a team that had a disappointing season in 2024.
Cleveland needs a quarterback, but do they like Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders enough to select them so high? What about adding to the defense with Penn State's Abdul Carter or Colorado's Travis Hunter? Or does Berry have something else in mind?
Let's try and find out with a quick run through some mock drafts to see what people think the Browns will do when they are on the clock on April 24 in Green Bay.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
If the Cleveland Browns want to cling to their hopes of winning back Myles Garrett, they need to become truly competitive. To do that, they need a quarterback. Shedeur Sanders might not be an elevating talent, but in Kevin Stefanski's scheme, his accuracy can go a long way.
Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
My thinking is Browns owner Jimmy Haslem forced Deshaun Watson and his fully guaranteed $230 million contract on GM Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski in 2022, and he'll probably dictate the organization draft a quarterback here to replace Watson. Ward features immense arm talent and more than enough mobility to extend plays. Ball protection will be a point of contention during the draft process due to his gunslinger mentality, but he's improved every single season and I don't see why that can't continue at the next level. I see a lot of Tony Romo in Ward's game.
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: Cam Ward QB, Miami
The more tape I watch, the more convinced I become that Cam Ward is the only quarterback in the class I'm comfortable using a first-round pick on. Cleveland gets the reset it needs.
Jacob Camenker, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Browns need quarterback help and it has to be cheap because of Deshaun Watson's albatross contract. That makes targeting Sanders or Ward with the No. 2 pick reasonable. Sanders is a tough quarterback with good arm talent who won consistently at Jackson State and Colorado. Cleveland should be confident that Kevin Stefanski can quickly mold the polished passer into a significant upgrade over Watson.
Brianna Dix, buccaneers.com: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
The Browns do need a quarterback but with Myles Garrett's future unknown, it would be difficult for the Browns to pass up an edge rusher of Abdul Carter's caliber. Carter's explosion off the line puts him in an advantageous position at the point of attack and he has an instinctive feel in the trenches. With a lethal spin move and elite closing burst, Carter would fortify the Browns' pass rush.
Marcus Moser, The 33rd Team: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
The Cleveland Browns would likely select Cam Ward if he were available at No. 2, but Abdul Carter isn't a bad consolation prize. We'll see what happens with Myles Garrett, but the idea of pairing them together for the next several years would be a sight to see.
Mike Sando, The Athletic: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Most execs do not see Sanders as a top-10 prospect. They think he holds the ball too long, lacks high-end traits and hit the wrong notes in combine interviews. Some fear he would be more likely to get a coach fired than help one earn an extension. Some said they had second-round grades on him. But Cleveland, not execs around the league, will be making this selection. Will the Browns be comfortable with him?
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Hunter can come in and start at receiver or cornerback right away. He'd have a big impact at either position for the Browns.
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
The Browns may be stuck into trading Myles Garrett soon despite not really desiring to do so, as the NFL Combine reports confirmed he has no intention of staying in Cleveland on a new deal. That should make it easier to take the dominant Carter to replace him, despite injury concerns, knowing they will have extra first-round capital in return.
Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus, Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Ahead of the combine, I was unsure if the Browns felt a need to take a quarterback at No. 2. After talking with people in Indianapolis, I am under the impression that Ward is the pick if he's there. But if it's not Ward, I don't think they will force it with Shedeur Sanders or another signal-caller.