The Cleveland Browns entered the 2025 offseason fresh off a 3-14 season that resulted in them having sole possession of the No.2 pick in the NFL Draft.
With Deshaun Watson set to miss the season with a setback in his achilles injury recovery, the team is looking at various options to fill the quarterback role.
The team met with Russell Wilson and acquired Philadelphia Eagles' backup Kenny Pickett via trade. The Browns could look to land a quarterback in the NFL Draft, and ESPN insider Adam Schefter doesn't think the draft's top quarterback prospect will make it past the Browns.
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"Zero chance, zero chance that Cam Ward is gonna make it to the (New York) Giants at 3. Just not gonna happen. So, I expect Cam Ward will be the No. 1 pick in the draft, whether that's Tennessee (Titans) or Cleveland or the New York Giants making that pick. This is all part of the process. You begin to evaluate all these guys. Teams do deeper and deeper dives into them.
From my perspective I'm talking to more and more people. Before the combine, at the combine, after the combine. I'm just telling you: the conversations I've had have convinced me that Cam Ward will be the number one pick, and certainly the first quarterback off the board. Certainly I think, the number one overall guy." Schefter said.
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Ward was a top-four Heisman Trophy finalist, leading all FBS quarterbacks with 39 touchdowns in his lone season at Miami. Ward threw for 4,313 yards to the tune of a 67.2 completion percentage.
Ward's collegiate career began at Incarnate Wood, where he won the Jerry Rice Award for being the most outstanding freshman at the FCS level. As a sophomore, Ward threw for over 4,600 yards and 47 touchdowns, leading to a scholarship offer from Washington State, where he would spend his next two seasons.
After two successful seasons at Washington State, Ward transferred to Miami, where he solidified himself as a top quarterback prospect. As draft season has progressed through the offseason, Ward has distanced himself from Colorado's Shedeur Sanders as the premiere quarterback prospect in the draft.
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This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM.