The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a bit of a conundrum leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. The team is undertaking a rebuild that usually sees a team start from the ground up.
But their roster situation gives pause as to what the Browns do with the No. 2 pick. They already have a dominant defensive force now signed for the long term in Myles Garrett. More importantly, they have a quarterback in Deshaun Watson eating up a significant chunk of their cap.
Watson of course is recovering from an Achilles tear and his status for the 2025 season is questionable. For that reason and the additional concern of his status in the coming years, some believe that Cleveland should take a quarterback with this pick.
Looking at most boards, that would mean taking Colorado product Shedeur Sanders at that spot. However, a separate quarterback prospect is rising late in this process that could make the Browns or other potential suitors rethink their process.
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay believes Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss may be a better option for teams in need of a quarterback.
"I actually have the same grade on Dart as I have on Shedeur Sanders," McShay wrote, "and I think Dart could provide massive value to any team with a quarterback need - especially one in the top three, which may be best served taking one of the blue-chip players with its top pick and then grabbing a QB elsewhere in the draft."
He has even enlisted comparisons of Dart to league MVP Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
I do think he will need a year to adjust to the intricacies of the pro game. But I've said before that Dart has some Josh Allen in his game, and I've meant it - his suddenness in the pocket and ability to make throws under pressure could make him special."
Of course this all comes down to how the Browns view these separate prospects on their board. But McShay's strategy is not one lacking reason fro Cleveland.
Rather than forcing the quarterback pick at No. 2, the Browns could either enhance their depth in another area or address a separate need with the number of tantalizing prospects available, then going back for Dart later on.
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While Dart may have some hyper generating around him, it is unlikely a team positioned high in the draft will be moving to reach on him early.
So assuming that projection holds, the Browns are tasked with a major decision. They must either take Sanders at No. 2, hope that he can take the reigns as their quarterback and miss out on the other highly touted prospects; alternatively, they take from the separate talent pool and try to address the quarterback need later on.
It is a tricky decision certainly, navigating their own evaluations and potential smoke screens emerging from various sources. But the time is ticking and they will need to have their plan ready by April 24.
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This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM.