Ah, the Browns. No different NFL crew has a decrease projected win complete from the oddsmakers, with Cleveland’s 2025 over-under at 4.5 wins and an enormous, absolutely assured contract nonetheless owed to injured QB Deshaun Watson. Kevin Stefanski can be teaching together with his job on the road in 2025 and there are positional wants throughout, together with at quarterback.
Cleveland has 10 picks, one wanting the NFL excessive coming into the draft, however 5 of them are within the sixth and seventh rounds. So it’d make sense to consolidate and use any of the 4 sixth-rounders to maneuver up a bit. We cannot mission trades on this mock, but when the Browns go on a quarterback at No. 2 total, we may positively see them packaging picks to maneuver up from No. 33 and get again into the primary spherical for a passer, particularly if the suitable one falls previous the Steelers at No. 21.
First spherical, second total: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
It has been an extended and painful seek for the Browns, attempting to land a franchise quarterback, and Baker Mayfield’s success in Tampa solely provides to the frustration of a horrible determination to take a position a lot in Watson. Even with all that, this is not an excellent yr for quarterbacks, so the Browns take a surer factor in Hunter, that uncommon athlete who may also help on either side of the ball. He’ll in all probability have a much bigger impression on protection, the place he can step in as a nook bookend with Denzel Ward, however Cleveland sorely wants assist at receiver, so even in a moonlighting position, Hunter may simply end second on the crew in landing receptions behind Jerry Jeudy.Â
Managing a two-way participant’s bodily workload and discovering the suitable rhythm of when to play him on offense and whether or not to take him off the sphere on protection is a largely unprecedented problem in at this time’s NFL, however Stefanski will discover artistic methods to make use of Hunter all around the area.
How lengthy can Travis Hunter play either side of the ball within the NFL?
Second spherical, thirty third total: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
With Watson having torn his Achilles once more, quarterback is clearly Cleveland’s most obtrusive and central want. So it might make sense for the Browns to commerce up into the primary spherical if the objective is to land a prospect like Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. That would imply buying and selling into the teenagers forward of Pittsburgh at No. 21, or much less possible buying and selling into the 20s if Pittsburgh passes on Dart. It is affordable to assume that Nos. 33 and 67 (perhaps with a sixth-rounder) may get the Browns to Denver at 20 to leap forward of the Steelers, however we’ll hold this mock easy and trade-free.
Milroe is a tempting dual-threat quarterback, working a 4.4 40 at his professional day, and he is a full three years youthful than Louisville‘s Tyler Shough, an alternative choice on this vary. Cleveland has stopgap measure in place with Joe Flacco if a rookie is not instantly prepared. Milroe is not the passer that Jayden Daniels was for Washington as a rookie, however the thought of an elusive runner who can study and develop within the go recreation could possibly be intriguing. Absent an aggressive commerce again into the primary spherical, Milroe is an effective potential match.
Third spherical, 67th total: WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
Even with Hunter serving to out, receiver is a significant want for Cleveland to make life simpler for a rookie quarterback. Royals is an electrical playmaker, with 15 touchdowns in 2023 earlier than lacking a lot of final season as a consequence of damage. With velocity and the power to make folks miss within the open area, Royals may simply step into the position previously held by Elijah Moore, who stays unsigned as a free agent.
Third spherical, 94th total: RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
From a reputation recognition standpoint, Skattebo is as thrilling a third-rounder as you may discover. He had an enormous 2024 season for Arizona State, with 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. The dearth of elite velocity — he ran a 4.65 40 at his professional day — is why he is nonetheless out there within the third spherical in what appears to be a deep class of working backs, however he is ok to pair with Jerome Ford and improve the place, and perhaps promote a zillion jerseys as nicely. That is the decide acquired from the Payments for receiver Amari Cooper, who had solely two touchdowns in 11 video games in Buffalo and stays unsigned as a free agent.
Fourth spherical, 104th total: T Chase Lundt, Connecticut
He is from the identical Texas highschool that produced Myles Garrett and would give Cleveland a long-term plan for each time Jack Conklin is completed at proper sort out. Lundt was a four-year starter for UConn, has good dimension at 6-foot-7, 304 kilos, and would not have to do a lot as a rookie so long as the starters keep wholesome. On a crew with this many wants, you need to spend money on the road of scrimmage typically.
Sixth spherical, 179th total: edge Que Robinson, Alabama
With the primary of 4 sixth-round picks, we’re searching for worth with a shot to stay on the 53. Robinson, who turns 24 in Could, emerged as a senior final fall, getting seven sacks after totaling 2.5 in his first 4 years in Tuscaloosa. He is lengthy and lean and was a core special-teams participant for Alabama, so he’ll be in place to contribute there as any backup edge rusher ought to.
Sixth spherical, 192nd total: TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
That is basically a free decide, acquired from the Bears for defensive sort out Chris Williams, who by no means performed a snap for Cleveland. The Browns have not re-signed tight finish Jordan Akins and will use extra of a blocking presence on the place, so we’ll pair them with Hawes, a Yale grad who went to Georgia Tech as a grad switch. He is by no means had a lot as 200 receiving yards in a season, however he’ll convey dimension to the place (6-foot-4, 253) and might stick as a 3rd tight finish.
Sixth spherical, two hundredth total: S R.J. Mickens, Clemson
One other skilled faculty participant, Mickens performed 60 video games with the Tigers. He ran the 40 in 4.49 seconds and was a stable blitzer with 10 tackles for loss in his final two seasons. Security might be a higher want for Cleveland than this decide, however Mickens would offer depth and may also help on protection models. As an added bonus, his father, Ray, performed one season for the Browns in 2005.
Sixth spherical, 216th total: LB Carson Bruener, Washington
One other NFL legacy — Bruener’s father, Mark, performed tight finish within the league and works within the Steelers‘ scouting division. Carson is 228 kilos and runs a 4.58 40, so he can cowl floor and had 300-plus tackles in faculty. He additionally had three interceptions as a senior. A sixth-rounder will make or miss the roster on special-teams worth, and he may also help there as nicely.
Seventh spherical, 255th total: WR Andrew Armstrong, Arkansas
Not fairly Mr. Irrelevant, as there are two extra picks after this one, nevertheless it’s shut. Armstrong has a small-school background, with 13 touchdowns in a breakout yr at East Texas A&M earlier than two validating seasons at Arkansas. He is 6-foot-3, runs a 4.51 40 and is coming off a 1,100-yard season within the SEC, so he isn’t a nasty end-of-draft flier.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You may comply with him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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