The Cleveland Browns hold the second overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. They are expected to target either Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, considering that Deshaun Watson has likely played his final meaningful down of football for the franchise.
However, draft guru Todd McShay of The Ringer revealed on the latest edition of his podcast that he’s heard the Browns won’t rush to grab Ward or Sanders on April 24.
“I’ve heard from multiple sources,” McShay explained, Cory Kinnan of Browns Wire/USA Today and Earnest Horn of Browns Nation shared. “Cleveland…they’re not pulling the trigger on a quarterback. They don’t believe that this is the year to do that. That they are not a quarterback in this class away. If it had been last year’s class, they feel really good that they can take off and run.”
Multiple analysts and front office personnel previously said they felt neither Ward nor Sanders would rank ahead of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. That said, the Browns seem desperate to find a long-term answer at the sport’s most important position after All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett went public with his desire to be traded to an advertised contender.
Earlier this week, Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Cleveland is “strongly considering” taking either Ward or Sanders at No. 2. Team reporter Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand later suggested the Browns will get Ward.
McShay disagrees and thinks the Browns could instead draft Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the second pick. Such a scenario would almost certainly involve Cleveland signing a bridge quarterback like Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons in March. The Browns could then draft a signal-caller, which is seen as a project for the future, such as Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
For a piece published Friday, ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi wrote that Sam Darnold “probably will be too expensive for the Browns,” assuming the Minnesota Vikings let Darnold reach free agency. Thus, a team-friendly signing such as Cousins could find himself mentoring a rookie who won’t be expected to play before 2026.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
