CLEVELAND, Ohio — There is no need more glaring on the Browns' roster than quarterback.
However, there appears to be separation at the top of what had been mostly a two-quarterback class between Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.
Momentum is trending toward the Titans taking Ward at No. 1.
The long assumption had been that the Browns are going to take a quarterback at No. 2.
If it were up to me, honestly, I would take that swing on Sanders because the penalties for missing are not nearly as severe as they used to be, and I don’t have concerns about his lack of elite arm strength.
But that decision is up to GM Andrew Berry and the Browns. What if they decide to pass on a quarterback entirely at No. 2?
What does their draft look like?
I give an example in my first Browns-only mock draft.
For this mock, I’m going four rounds, and I’m using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator as a guideline to make sure my picks are realistic.
Round 1, Pick 2: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Height, weight: 6-1, 185 pounds.
2024 stats: 96 receptions, 1,258 yards (13.1 avg.), 15 TDs; 36 solo tackles, 4 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 11 pass breakups.
Again, if the choice were mine, I would not hesitate to take Sanders despite how it looks like his stock is sliding. I won’t put too much stock into it because his stock has fallen without him throwing a pass, which is prime silly season fodder.
But in this scenario, if the Browns don’t take Sanders, I have them taking his uber-athletic teammate in Hunter.
Berry said at the NFL Combine he sees Hunter as a receiver, and I agree with that sentiment. If the Browns draft him, he could make a bigger impact as a No. 2 receiver on Day 1 than as the No. 3 corner behind Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson Jr.
That doesn’t mean he can’t get some work on both sides of the ball. Hunter is a one-of-a-kind athlete who has played more than 100 snaps per game in the mile-high altitude of Boulder, Colorado.
Either you get a potential No. 1 receiver to pair with Jerry Jeudy or the heir apparent to Denzel Ward as the team’s top corner. It’s hard to imagine Hunter busting because of how athletic and smart he is, especially if he dedicates his time in the NFL more to one position.
Round 2, Pick 33: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-2, 225 pounds.
2024 stats: 205-319 (64.3%), 2,844 yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs; 168 carries, 726 yards (4.3 avg.), 20 TDs.
Milroe for me is my QB3 behind Ward and Sanders, although I’d expect Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss to go in the first round. For me, I’d take Milroe before Dart because not only does Milroe have a much higher ceiling than Dart, but I also have concern with Dart’s problems in clutch situations. Four of his six interceptions have come in the fourth quarter of games, and his college quarterback rating was just 146.47 when trailing.
While Milroe’s rating when trailing was worse than Dart’s, you can excuse some of that due to him being more raw with the need for fundamental refinement, particularly with his footwork.
Milroe really is a project because he needs to fix his fundamentals as a passer, especially in the short and intermediate game. His deep ball is a thing of beauty, and he is one of the more athletically gifted quarterbacks you’ll find.
Any team that drafts him should do whatever is needed to prevent him from seeing the field as long as possible to let him develop behind the scenes. He needs a lot of work, at least as much if not more than Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts got before they made their debuts.
The Browns haven’t shown much in their history when it comes to developing quarterbacks. But they really haven’t had a chance to work with someone with the physical gifts and upside that Milroe has. If a team does things the right way with him, the reward could be incredible.
Round 3, Pick 67: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Height, weight: 6-0, 225 pounds.
2024 stats: 240 carries, 1,535 yards (6.4 avg.), 21 TDs; 22 receptions, 188 yards (8.5 avg.), 2 TDs.
The theme of this being an offensive-minded draft continues as the Browns dip into this extremely deep running back class.
Johnson gives the Browns something they don’t have yet: a powerful runner with an ability to catch passes out of the backfield.
Johnson isn’t a super speedy runner, so don’t expect him to be a home-run hitter. But what he can do is get chunk plays. According to data from Pro Football Focus, Johnson has an explosive run rate (gains of 10 or more yards) of 17.9%, which is a higher rate than Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and other great NFL running backs like Kenneth Walker III, Bijan Robinson and James Cook.
Johnson is also a very patient runner, and that combined with his north-south style makes him a guy who can be a No. 1 running back quickly.
Round 3, Pick 94: Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
Height, weight: 6-5, 250 pounds.
2024 stats: 60 receptions, 787 yards (13.1 avg.), 7 TDs.
As soon as the news came out that Helm did his NFL Combine drills and athletic tests on a sprained ankle that he suffered on a false start on the 40-yard dash, I was willing to throw those results out.
I didn’t expect him to test out of this world, but in no way was what he did at the Combine indicative of how he moves on the field. So it will be curious to see how he looks at his pro day.
Helm has quality hands and ball skills, making him a threat as a receiving tight end. He may not wow anyone as an athlete, but he feels like a good, steady player who can have a lengthy NFL career.
With Kevin Stefanski taking more control of the offense, the Browns could use a second tight end. Helm’s hands and work as a pass catcher make him a good choice for the TE2 role.
Round 4, Pick 104: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Height, weight: 6-0, 231 pounds.
2024 stats: 82 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups.
It’s time to finally address the defense full time in this mock draft, even though Hunter could easily be a full-time corner in the NFL.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s injury uncertainty means the Browns should try to find help at the linebacker position. In a weak linebacker class, Carter is one of the few players at his position who can play all three downs.
Not only can Carter play downhill in the run game, but he has the speed and range to cover as well.
Carter will need to refine his work in coverage. However, the tools are there for him to become an impact linebacker fairly quickly.