The pressure is mounting for the Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. Does the franchise take a quarterback at No. 2 overall, or turn to Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter or Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter?
It's a major decision that the Browns must find an answer to following another disappointing season. And that challenge became more difficult in the pre-draft process, as Carter suffered a stress reaction in his foot and did not perform at the combine or his pro day.
Cleveland is widely considered in play for the unanimous All-American pass rusher, as the Tennessee Titans continue to be linked to Miami quarterback Cam Ward. The question remained, though, of how Cleveland felt about Carter's injury.
Berry reportedly cleared the air on the matter on Sunday, according to ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi.
"Not going to be prohibitive to a long, successful career," Berry said via Oyefusi.
Carter (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) elected to not undergo surgery for the injury that he suffered in training. Additionally, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during Penn State's playoff run.
The former four-star recruit out of Glenside, Pennsylvania, racked up a nation-leading 24 tackles for loss with 12 sacks as a junior in 2024.
According to Carter's agent Drew Rosenhaus, NFL teams could have a chance to see Carter perform in a private workout sometime in mid-April.
"He is still finishing up rehab on the shoulder injury he had from the Boise State game," Rosenhaus said via ESPN. "He may still do a workout for teams sometime in mid-April."
Regardless of whether Carter does workout or not, it appears that the Browns don't consider the injury concerns as substantial.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM.