With the details of Maliek Collins' contract now confirmed, Jack Duffin looks at the value, terms and details of the deal and what it means for the Cleveland Browns remaining spending plans.
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The financial details of Maliek Collins' contract have been released and this is the first deal that has come out so far. With every contract I will be writing them up as OBR VIP articles.
It takes a few days once an extension is signed for the information to get to sites like Over The Cap for me to report on it. I never take too much notice of the initial reports including 'up to' as these come from the agent's side, and they regularly inflate the numbers using unlikely-to-be-earned incentives and others as they want to use them to attract future clients. It gives you a good steer for what the deal is likely to be, but you won't see me write on the numbers until we get everything official. Sometimes this can take a few days, you won't see me write on deals until I have the official breakdown.
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OBR Daily Mock Draft: Quarterback or Bust
Cleveland Browns Daily Mock Draft for Wednesday, March 19, 2025. While the draft approach debate rages on in Cleveland, the Browns do what so many want, and they take their next quarterback with their top pick.
Mike Keefe7 hrs
As we approach the final weeks leading into the NFL Draft, the conversation about the Cleveland Browns and how they will use the second overall pick continues to be one of the most intriguing in the league. Several very smart people think the best players in this draft aren't quarterbacks, and the Browns would be best suited to get a blue chip prospect as opposed to, in their minds, reaching for a quarterback. Other very smart people think the Browns need to address the quarterback position with the second overall pick, no matter what. In my mock today, we're going to roll with that second option, which seems to be the more unpopular approach. We're going to grab that quarterback at two, and then see what we can do with the rest of the draft to give him every chance to succeed.
2. Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
6'2" 216 lbs
In this mock, Cam Ward went off the board with the top pick, so the Browns roll with the player who has turned out to be the most polarizing in the draft. Many experts say that Sanders is nowhere near talented enough to be in the discussion at number two. Others point out his playing style and how, historically, it has meshed with Kevin Stefanski's offense. To be honest, I fall in between those experts. I think we're all a bit harsh on a quarterback who has had a stellar college career, and who I truly feel has earned the right to be a top quarterback in the league. I think there are some very concerning elements of his game, but if this happens with the Browns at two, I will be optimistic that Kevin Stefanski and company believe they can get all the positive traits out of Shedeur on a weekly basis.
Notable players available: Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, Mason Graham, Will Campbell, Ashton Jeanty
TRADE
- Browns send picks 33 and 179 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Browns receive picks 35 and 96
As I run through these mocks every week, the trade calls come fast and furious for pick 33, and I can certainly understand why. In this circumstance, the Eagles are jonesing to get some offensive line upgrades, so they trade up to pick Donovan Jackson out of Ohio State. It's an easy call for the Browns as we only drop 2 spots and add another top-100 pick. (With pick 34, the Giants selected Tre Harris out of Ole Miss.)
35. Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
6'0" 190 lbs
The defensive philosophy of the Cleveland Browns is simple, but it requires bigtime players to execute. They want to pressure the quarterback with as few players as possible, and they want to shut down receivers with high quality defensive backs who can take advantage of mistakes quarterbacks will make when facing that pressure. There are some questions as to how the Browns will move forward in future years with guys like Greg Newsome and MJ Emerson. Benjamin Morrison would come in this year and help alleviate some of those concerns, as he could step in and almost immediately challenge both Newsome and Emerson for the title of second best cornerback on the roster.
Notable players available: Tyliek Williams, Walter Nolen, Grey Zabel, Kenneth Grant, Omarion Hampton
67. TreVeyon Henderson, RB Ohio State
5'10" 207lbs
TreVeyon Henderson just refused to ever get pigeonholed, didn't he? He's a terrific workhorse back, he's a really good pass catcher out of the backfield, and he does all the little things well in between. Henderson gives the Browns another exciting backfield option in 2025, and he becomes their primary focus at the position in years to come.
Notable players available: Elic Ayomanor, Marcus Mbow, Jayden Higgins, Bradyn Swinson, Darius Alexander
94. Elijah Arroyo, TE Miami (FL)
6'4" 245 lbs
Full disclosure, I've been doing these mocks every single week, and I just can't figure out how Arroyo continues to get overlooked enough to where I can draft him here at pick 94. He does everything well as a tight end. He's explosive, he's got great hands, he's a good route runner, and he's a powerful run blocker. If he's on the board here, I'm pairing him with another freakish Miami Hurricane tight end in David Njoku, and the Browns will have a chance to be dominant at this position.
Notable players available: Alfred Collins, Lathan Ransom, Josaiah Stewart, Hollin Pierce, DJ Giddens
96. Hollin Pierce, OT Rutgers
6'8" 341 lbs
We all know that the offensive tackle positions are going to need to be addressed in coming years, and so the Browns go out and get an absolute monster to throw into the mix in Rutgers' Hollin Pierce. At 6'8" and 341 pounds, I feel like I might have dreams of Pierce and Dawand Jones hitting their full potentials, giving the Browns the biggest tackles in history. Like Jones, Pierce is almost unsettlingly athletic for his size. He's a force when pass blocking, but refreshingly, he's also very good when opening up holes for running backs.
Notable players available: Alfred Collins, Josaiah Stewart, DJ Giddens, Cameron Skattebo, Quinn Ewers
104. Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
6'4" 260 lbs
One of the most underestimated players in this draft, the Browns grab Jack Sawyer in round 4 to pair up with Myles Garrett, Isaiah McGuire, Alex Wright, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and company to do just what he did at Ohio State, get after the quarterback. Sawyer possesses one of my favorite traits from an edge rusher – he finds a way to make a play even if he doesn't get to the quarterback. Sawyer isn't the most athletic, or the fastest, but he's got that uncanny ability to consistently impact the game. I'd love to see that at work across from Myles Garrett on Sundays.
Notable players available: Alfred Collins, Terrance Ferguson, Ajani Cornelius, Anthony Belton, Joshua Farmer
192. Jay Higgins, LB Iowa
6'0" 231 lbs
Higgins is just one of those linebackers you hate going up against if you are a quarterback, as he always seems to know where you want to go with the football. While he's not the biggest or fastest linebacker, he plays with an instinct that always puts him around the ball. He'd be a great compliment backer for the Browns, especially on passing downs, where he really excels in coverage.
Notable players available: Dillon Gabriel, Elijah Roberts, Dylan Sampson, Aeneas Peebles, Corey Kiner
200. Willie Lampkin, IOL North Carolina
5'11" 291 lbs
I love this kid. Willie Lampkin is entirely too small to be as good as he consistently is, earning First-Team All-American honors for the Tar Heels this year. He is an absolute technician on the interior line, just flat-out understanding what it takes to win against supremely talented defensive lineman who are much bigger than he is. Once Lampkin engages in a block, it's virtually impossible for defenders to disengage, and he excels in getting into the second level of a defense to open up holes. He'd be a great depth piece for the Cleveland Browns, who need to start thinking long-term when it comes to their guards.
Notable players available: RJ Harvey, Tahj Brooks, Corey Kiner, Trevor Etienne, Upton Stout
216. Dante Trader Jr., S Maryland
5'11" 203 lbs
Another position the Browns will most certainly look to address in the draft is Safety, and Trader gives them a really nice option here in the sixth round. The only thing Trader really doesn't bring to the table is explosiveness. He's just a very solid, well-rounded safety who could see quick opportunities with the Browns. He's really good in coverage, he's a solid blitzer, and he's got a miniscule missed tackle rate. Grabbing him here in the sixth round would feel like a big win for the Browns.
Notable players available: Dillon Gabriel, Jordan James, Joshua Gray, Devin Neal, Kobe King
257. Efton Chism, WR Eastern Washington
5'11" 201 lbs
To close things out, the Browns grab one of my favorite end-of-draft prospects in Eastern Washington's Efton Chism. I believe this kid has all the makings of the next small-school wideout to make it big in the league. He's a great route runner, he wins constantly at the point of attack, and he's extremely quick. He may not blow you away with straight-line speed, but he has enough speed to get open and outrun defenders frequently. I really wanted to grab a wide receiver earlier in this draft, but never found myself in the right spot. Here, with the Browns' last pick of the draft, it's the perfect spot to grab this diamond in the rough.
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