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NFL free agency continues to be uneventful for your Cleveland Browns, but have no fear; the 2025 NFL draft is only 35 days away. Earlier this week, I released my Top 100 Big Board. If you missed that article, you can read it here. The Browns are doing all their homework on this year's quarterback class, hoping they can find a diamond in the rough. Let's get into this week's Browns draft questions.
I feel like safety is a need going into the draft who could be some guys the Browns target starting potentially in the third round? -JXDubs727
Yeah, they should add a safety in this year's class, and there are some intriguing later-round options. Lathan Ransom from Ohio State is a big physical safety player with a great motor and could play a nice role in Jim Schwartz's defense. If you're looking more for a deep free safety, Andrew Mukuba from Texas has good coverage instincts and excellent range and speed. Malachi Moore from Alabama is a late-round sleeper to watch; he has excellent ball skills and the versatility to line up all over the defensive backfield effectively.
Will Howard 4th Round? -Browns Down Under
It doesn't seem likely that Will Howard will make it to the fourth round; he will go on day two at some point. He has some first-round buzz, but I'm not sure he will sneak in. Mid to late round two is my current guess as to when he goes, but the third round seems to be the latest he does.
Tyler Shough moving up a lot of draft boards. I'm not concerned about his age, especially at the QB position; given his experience in college, isn't he a viable option? Sounds a lot like Bo Nix. -Underdawg
The biggest difference between Bo Nix and Tyler Shough is that although Nix played seven seasons in college, he missed a lot of time due to injury. His injuries were broken bones, which usually don't have lingering effects. He's an intriguing day-three option, but I'm not sure I would take him any sooner. Shough has great arm talent, but he's only played in double-digit games in college once in seven years, playing in seven or fewer the other six seasons, and has a career completion percentage of 63%. But if you choose to pass on a quarterback until later in the draft, he is a viable option, but many concerns make me hesitate despite the arm talent and athleticism.
The closer it gets to the draft & with the moves made by the Titans. Expecting them to go QB. Do you think a combo of Sanders & Jackson with your 1st two picks is better than a combo of Carter & Dart? - Darren Scaife
Of those two options, I would choose Abdul Carter, the Penn State pass rusher, and Jaxson Dart, the Ole Miss quarterback. Dart isn't as pro-ready as Shedeur Sanders, but he has better traits and a higher ceiling. Combining that with Carter, who is a special kind of athlete you don't see often, makes that an easy choice for me.
Any views on Jordan James or Tahj Brooks as a fit for the Browns? - Dino
Tahj Brooks is one of my favorite later-round guys who would be great as the second running back drafted by the team. There is a good chance they double dip in this great class, and Brooks is a violent runner who would be great as the team's short-yardage back as a complement to whoever they take earlier in the class.
Are there any tackle prospects past Ersery that you like as a project? -BLess'eM
If you're talking like a genuine developmental guy that you take late in the draft, my guy is Carson Vinson, the left tackle from Alabama A&M. He burst onto the scene with a good Senior Bowl week and followed up with a nice Pro Day. Vinson is a multi-year starter at left tackle, has excellent raw power, and may have the most violent hands in this year's class. He has good movement skills as well. He needs to clean up his pad level, and some of his footwork. He will need time to adjust to the much higher level of competition, but he could develop into a good NFL tackle.
Who would be some QBs you like as camp arms that could be UDFAs and maybe a surprise? - Rod BLuhM
I am intrigued by Tayler Elgersma, the surprise Senior Bowl quarterback from Canada who played for Laurier. He has a big arm and can make throws at all three levels of the field. He was erratic and needs to improve his accuracy and adjust to the differences between how they play in Canada and here. Still, he's a lottery ticket and a guy with the arm talent to play NFL football; if you can develop him, I would like to invite him to camp and get a closer look.
Who's one wide receiver outside of the top 5 you like for the Browns? - Nick Little
Jalen Royals has been a draft crush for me for a while now, and I think he could be just what the Browns need to elevate the passing offense. He has good size and the long speed to stretch a defense vertically. Royals is explosive and creative with the ball in his hands in the open field to make people miss and pick up extra yardage and could help make the Browns offense more dynamic in 2025.
Is it too soon to list the Top 6 to 8 QB prospects with the range of their selection? -Ramllov
The top five quarterbacks on my board are all in the top 100 of my big board overall, but they could be selected higher than that because of positional value. Outside of the top five quarterbacks, I have the rest of them as day-three prospects. For the top five, here are the overall rankings I have for them: Cam Ward (9th), Shedeur Sanders (23rd), Jalen Milroe (59th), Will Howard (68th), and Jaxson Dart (69th).