2025 Draft Grade: A- The decision to pass on Travis Hunter for bevy of picks is one that caught many off guard, and while the consensus was Cleveland getting the best of trade with Jacksonville, the impact won't truly be known for several years. I like the idea of Andrew Berry setting the Browns up for a chance to get the quarterback of their choice next year by pulling in what is expected to be an early selection from the Jaguars.
Still, Hunter is a dynamic athlete with the potential to be a top-tier pro at either wide receiver or cornerback. However, getting the picks spent on Mason Graham, Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the deal certainly has Cleveland off to a good start. Judkins and Sampson have the potential to be a thunder-and-lightning combo for the foreseeable future, and Graham was one of the premium prospects in this class.
Adding a versatile pass catcher in Harold Fannin is an underrated move as well, as the Browns are not shy about employing multiple tight ends in their offense. Also, let's not forget the addition of Carson Schwesinger, who has DROY potential
Then there is the quarterback situation. Yes, Joe Flacco seems to defy Father Time over and over, and honestly, Kenny Pickett is the type of quarterback that Stefanaski can elevate. When they skipped over a passer in the first two rounds, I felt they were postponing their quarterback decision until 2026. Of course, that could still be the case, as I'm predicting here. Still, throwing Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders into the equation seems like an awfully "Cleveland Browns" thing to do.
I felt like Gabriel is the right kind of guy for a team looking to develop a QB2. I also felt Sanders could be a future starter in this league, though there are obvious physical limitations and other factors that could hinder that development.
So how does this playout? Are all four quarterbacks in the running for one job because I just don't see that many reps being available in practice. Is it a foregone conclusion that Cleveland would love to find a quarterback in the 2026 class, considering last year wasn't a bunch many were impressed with? I guess we are going to find out over the next 6-8 months.
Looking ahead - 2026 Draft Considering the Browns have so many question marks at the quarterback position, it has to be on the table here. The 2026 class has the potential to look more like 2024 than 2025, and it's the most important position on the field. Still, the Browns would be in great shape if any of their quarterbacks (not named Flacco) had a breakout year. Elsewhere, this team still lacks a proven player at left tackle, and that could be the case all across the offensive line as it includes three starters going into a contract year.
This roster is still in search of a long-term pass-rush partner for Myles Garrett coming off the edge as well, and while Jerry Jeudy just had his best season as a pro, it's not a stretch to say this roster lacks a No. 1 target either. It will be interesting to see how this roster develops this season, and here's to hoping many of the questions get sorted out between now and next April.
~Austin Smith, DraftTek Senior Analyst