Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns reportedly are willing to ship away a pair of defensive standouts in hopes of adding draft capital.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz reported that Browns cornerback Greg Newsome and defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo are "believed to be available via trade" entering Thursday night's NFL draft. Both players are entering the final years of their contracts.

The Browns selected Newsome with the No. 26 pick in the 2021 NFL draft and exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal last offseason. Unfortunately, he's coming off a lackluster 2024 campaign in which he missed the last four games of the season with a hamstring injury and produced a career lows of 27 tackles and five passes defended with one interception.

Newsome could be expendable if the Browns use the No. 2 pick in this year's draft to select Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner excels both as a wide receiver and cornerback, making him one of the most unique prospects ever to enter the NFL. B/R's NFL Scouting Department predicted in its final mock draft that Hunter lands in Cleveland.

Okoronkwo signed a three-year deal with the Browns prior to the 2023 season and will be making $6 million during the 2025 campaign. He's appeared in 30 games for Cleveland over the past two seasons and produced a combined 54 total tackles and 7.5 sacks.

With 10 picks in the 2025 draft and four in the first three rounds, the Browns have the chance to inject new life into their franchise. However, it appears that Newsome and Okoronkwo could be on the move to make room for the incoming talent.

The Cleveland Browns "remain open-minded" to trading back from the No. 2 pick of the 2025 NFL draft, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Wednesday on SportsCenter.

"As one team source told me, it would be foolish to not at least consider this, and they could add to their ten-pick haul moving forward," Fowler said.

Live from #Browns HQ, my report for @SportsCenter

Cleveland is open to trade calls at No. 2. “Foolish not to consider it,” per source. pic.twitter.com/A8SxB9l0Jn

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 23, 2025

Fowler added that the Browns "have a very short list of players they would consider in the early first round," and that the majority of league insiders expect the team to stick with the No. 2 selection.

Cleveland is expected to use that pick to draft Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, who the team sees mainly as a wide receiver rather than a cornerback, according to Fowler.

Teams who are reportedly interested in trading up in the first round include the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer and the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard, respectively.

The Bears boast one of the best draft stocks in the NFL heading into the draft as the only team with three selections in the top 50 thanks to picks at No. 10, No. 39 and No. 41. Chicago general manager Ryan Poles could potentially put together a competitive package if willing to give up multiple high picks in return.

The Cleveland Browns selected Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel with the No. 94 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Dillon Gabriel plays the quarterback position like a point guard. He effectively distributes the ball to his weapons.

Gabriel is a timing and rhythm quarterback who thrives targeting the short and intermediate areas of the field. He is a spot thrower who can pick apart zone defenses when kept clean in the pocket. Gabriel plays with good poise and calmness inside the pocket, stepping up to avoid collapsing edge pressure. He throws a catchable ball with a combination of velocity and touch. Due to his litany of snaps/experience, the game has slowed down for him, and he can play at maximum speed. He is highly effective on RPO play calls, reading defensive leverages, and false steps on the second level. Gabriel's ball placement is a strength of his game; he protects receivers and rarely throws them into incoming defenders or high-traffic areas.

He will test the defense deep down the field. Gabriel identifies one-on-one matchups and will allow his receiver to make a play. He is an anticipatory deep passer; Gabriel throws down the field early with plenty of arc/touch to give his playmaker a chance to separate and run underneath the football. If given isolated throws to a favorable matchup, Gabriel will take it. He is a good athlete and improvisational quarterback. He will climb the pocket to reset and throw, but if flushed, Gabriel will break contain in hopes of making a play. He displays the toughness to handle designed quarterback run plays.

Gabriel is a physically limited quarterback. His arm talent/strength are average at best. When windows are tightened by the defensive coverage, the ability to drive passes decreases. Gabriel will not be a fit for a vertical passing offense in the NFL. Around ten percent of his pass attempts this season have traveled 20+ yards down the field. Gabriel is undersized without an elite trait, like speed or arm talent, to alleviate any concerns NFL front offices may have. Gabriel is an older prospect who is finishing his sixth season in college football. NFL franchises that prioritize youth in their early draft picks will have Gabriel lower on their draft boards. He will not check some important pre-draft boxes for NFL teams.

In conclusion, Dillon Gabriel is a well-experienced pocket passer with more than functional mobility. Gabriel projects as a backup quarterback at the next level. Placing him in a West Coast offense is the best plan for him and the respective team selecting him.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 204

HAND: 9"

ARM: 30"

WINGSPAN: 71 ¾"

POSITIVES

— He has good athleticism and is an improvisational scrambler with his legs.

— Throws with reliable accuracy and ball placement, two-level passer from the pocket.

— He has played a ton of football at the collegiate level, over 2,300 snaps behind center.

— Wins with timing and rhythm from the pocket.

NEGATIVES

— Undersized QB with no elite physical traits to fall back on.

— Arm talent is average at best, questionable pushing the ball down the field.

— Older prospect will be 25-years old towards the end of his rookie season.

— Testing and defeating tight man-to-man coverage.

NOTES

— Born Dec. 28, 2000

— 3-star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: All-Big Ten First Team; Big Ten Quarterback of the Year; Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year; Associated Press All-America third team; Heisman Trophy finalist; FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189)

— 2023: All-Big 12 first team (unanimous); Manning Award finalist; Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

— His father, Garrett Gabriel, was a productive QB for Hawaii (5,638 yards and 47 touchdowns)

GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 163

POSITION RANK: QB10

PRO COMPARISON: More athletic version of Tua Tagovailoa

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Cleveland Browns selected Michigan DL Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Mason Graham has the potential to be one of the best defensive tackle prospects to come out of college in the last few years. His lack of elite size and length will keep him from being in the same category as Jalen Carter, but the Michigan product's combination of strength and athleticism gives him a high ceiling as a pro.

Graham is quick off the ball to put pressure on offensive linemen immediately and has the agility to throw off linemen's angles when slanting. He's very effective when slanting to get penetration in the backfield, and he has the strength and physicality at the point of attack to control blocks when taking them on straight up.

Against combo blocks and double teams, the Wolverine's sub-par pad level will occasionally cause him trouble, but he's also shown the ability to absorb contact and hold ground when he keeps his pads down. He's even made a few plays while taking on double teams.

As a pass-rusher, Graham is still learning how to use his hands consistently and his lack of top-tier arm length might be a bigger issue at the next level.

However, he has the movement skills to develop a good arsenal of pass-rush moves and has already flashed a decent hand-swipe and swim move. Also, he has the strength to collapse the pocket as a bull rusher when he uses good leverage.

Schematically, Graham would be best as a 3-technique but he can line up as a 4- to 5-technique if needed. Michigan has been moving him up and down the defensive line so far this season, which has helped increase his position versatility.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 306

HAND: 9⅛”

ARM: 32"

WINGSPAN: 83⅜”

POSITIVES

— Impressive movement skills for his size and a quick get-off to get penetration, especially when slanting.

— Takes on blocks with a wide base and has plenty of strength to hold his ground one-on-one. Solid versus double teams and combo blocks, too. Can also fight back against pressure to avoid getting washed.

— Has the upper body strength to get extension against offensive linemen and gain control of the block when he lands his hands.

— Can collapse the pocket as a bull rusher when he keeps his pads down.

— Shows a decent hand-swipe move and can catch offensive linemen leaning with a swim move. Also can be effective as the looper in line games with his agility.

— Has fluid hips as a pass-rusher to clear his lower half and get clean wins.

NEGATIVES

— Lacks some height and appears to have shorter arms for an elite-level prospect.

— Has a habit of standing up out of his stance and pad level is sub-par overall.

— Still learning how to consistently use his hands as a pass-rusher.

NOTES

— Born Sept. 9, 2003

— 4-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2023 (Broken Left Thumb, missed 2 games, played with club/cast)

— 2023 Second-team All-American; First-team All-Big Ten; Rose Bowl Defensive MVP; Academic All-Big Ten

GRADE: 9.1 (Top-10 player)

OVERALL RANK: 3

POSITION RANK: DL1

PRO COMPARISON: Christian Wilkins

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

The Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Quinshon Judkins is a talented and athletic running back with a three-down skill set.

He is a patient runner with good vision who finds his way through the line of scrimmage. Judkins presses and exchanges to find daylight through the second level of the defense. He is advanced at getting what is blocked and extra yards if available. He is capable of making moves on alley defenders when faced with one-on-one situations.

Judkins has a compact and densely built frame. He runs hard behind his pads and will lower his shoulder to finish runs. He is difficult to bring down with forward momentum and his shoulders squared to the target. Judkins is a versatile runner who can change from a punishing to an evasive style, depending on the situation. He packs a powerful, stiff arm to thwart away closing defenders.

Judkins is a playmaker with the burst and speed combination needed to generate big plays with the ball in his hands. He wins the corner and beats pursuit angles. Judkins is a good pass catcher out of the backfield—he even lines up in the slot and out wide. He has soft hands to safely secure the ball in space.

Pass protection is an area of needed growth for Judkins. He is a willing participant, but he must be more prepared to engage with free runners at full speed. He must step up prepared and braced for impact to slow down their momentum. He does get driven back at times. This season, volume and production will not be in his favor due to splitting snaps with TreVeyon Henderson. Being more decisive running between the tackles is key for Judkins. He must limit getting caught up in the wash by being patient and pressing gaps.

Overall, Quinshon Judkins has the blend of size, strength, and speed needed to become an impact player at the running back position. He is an RB1-caliber talent who boasts a scheme-versatile conceptual fit. He should be featured more in the passing game at the next level, from designed quick routes, screens, and some receiver alignments. Judkins can be a security blanket underneath for his quarterback.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 219

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 30¼"

WINGSPAN: 73½"

40-YARD DASH: 4.48

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: 38.5"

BROAD: 11'

POSITIVES

— Difficult to bring down, forces missed tackles with power and elusiveness.

— Burst and acceleration to pop through the initial layers of the defense.

— Plus-level pass catcher out of the backfield, adding to his third-down value.

— Well-proportionate and compact build with good contact balance.

NEGATIVES

— Steadily improving pass protection technique, limiting missed assignments.

— Consistent decisiveness as a runner, finding the happy medium with patience.

— Production will take a hit by splitting snaps with TreVeyon Henderson.

NOTES

— Born Oct. 29, 2003

— 3-star recruit in the 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2022: First-Team All-SEC

— 2023: First-Team All-SEC

GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player—Round 2)

OVERALL RANK: 55

POSITION RANK: RB4

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Joe Mixon or Kareem Hunt

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Cleveland Browns selected Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson with the No. 126 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Dylan Sampson exudes patience and explosiveness as a ball-carrier. 

Sampson runs with great patience behind his offensive line and lead blockers. He does not overrun his convoy; he follows them into open space. Sampson is a sudden mover with quick vertical cuts at the second level of the defense. He is adept at working through congestion. 

Sampson displays quick footwork to exchange gaps and change directions. He can stop and start without wasted movement. His short-area quickness aided his ability to change run paths based on the defense’s run fits. He has good football IQ and instincts/feel for the game. He processes blocking leverages quickly. Sampson has legitimate big-play speed. He's a threat to create an explosive play at any time. 

He converts speed to power well to fall forward with a head of steam. He runs harder and stronger than his frame would suggest. Sampson does not avoid contact; with his compact frame, he will finish runs with momentum.

Sampson is an effective, willing pass-blocker. He gives effort, but his frame and strength raise concerns against NFL defenders. He struggles to locate the free runner against blitz packages. Sampson's undersized frame is not built for the heavy workload he was subjected to at Tennessee. Short-yardage power is not one of his best attributes. He does not push many piles to create lanes in short-yardage situations. He was also underutilized as a pass-catcher for the Vols despite having the athleticism to be a weapon in space. 

In conclusion, Sampson is a talented, compact running back. He projects as a gap-scheme RB2 for an NFL offense. If he lands with a team that has a powerful offensive line, he has lead-back potential. Due to his size and average outside vision, Sampson will not be for every team. But the combination of his home run speed and patience gives him a clear path to success.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 5'8

WEIGHT: 200

HAND: 8¾"

ARM: 30½"

WINGSPAN: 73"

40-YARD DASH: 4.42 (Pro Day)

VERTICAL: 35"

BROAD: 10'4"

POSITIVES

— Generates explosive plays with dangerous home run speed.

— Runs with great timing, feel, and vision to find daylight.

— Quick footwork for elusive jump cuts when pressing the line of scrimmage.

— A patient runner who follows his lead blockers into the open field.

NEGATIVES

— Undersized frame does not match up with bell-cow workload from 2024.

— Consistency with ball security; fumbled the ball four times in 2024.

— Effectiveness in short-yardage situations; adequate run power and leg drive.

NOTES

— Born September 14, 2004

— 4-star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024 All-America Third Team; SEC Offensive Player of the Year; All-SEC First Team; Maxwell Award Semifinalist; Doak Walker Award Semifinalist

GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 75

POSITION RANK: RB7

PRO COMPARISON: Leon Washington

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Cleveland Browns selected Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders with the No. 144 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Shedeur Sanders is one of the purest passers from the pocket in college football and the NFL Draft class.

Sanders is a precision pocket passer. When protected by the offensive line, he dissects defensive coverages quickly. Sanders is an accurate and precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. He has an NFL caliber arm and velocity to make the requisite throws to win at the next level. He throws with good pacing at all three-levels. Sanders is among the best in terms of accuracy on down the field throws. He throws with great arc and trajectory for his receivers to run under/through the ball.

Sanders excels at leading his receivers away from coverage and protecting them from big hits. His ball placement is great, he can put the ball where he wants with control. He displays innate comfort, throwing from muddy pockets with pressure bearing down. He brings outstanding poise and calmness in late-game situations to lead his team to victory.

However, Sanders takes too many hits because he tries to make a play and holds onto the ball. Sanders must improve his anticipation and get the ball out of his hands quicker. He would benefit from more velocity on drive throws.

Although Sanders has been willing to throw from muddy pockets and under pressure, defenses with consistent pass-rush packages can disrupt his timing and speed up his process. It would benefit him to be more proactive with his legs to give himself a better chance to overcome pressure packages earlier in games.

Overall, Sanders' natural and pure passing abilities are the strength of his game. He is a high-floor prospect with a good ceiling to buy into. Sanders is best suited for a quick-passing offense, where he can play on time and on schedule. He has the mental aptitude and accuracy to become a franchise-leading quarterback.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 198

HAND: 9⅜"

ARM: 31½"

WINGSPAN: 77¾"

POSITIVES

— High-level passer, throws with great accuracy, and ball placement from the pocket.

— Displays mental resolve in late-game/clutch situations. Trustworthy when the game is on the line.

— Accustomed to throwing from muddy pockets. He stands tall to deliver the ball downfield.

— When protected, picks defenses apart with precision and surgical process.

NEGATIVES

— He does not utilize his athleticism enough to escape the pocket quickly and avoid pressure.

— Needs to limit pocket drifting when sensing pressure, step up and make the throw.

— Improving route anticipation, tends to wait for his WR to break and look for the ball before throwing.

— Needs to throw the ball away against pressure and stop taking sacks.

NOTES

— Born Feb. 7, 2002

— 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Son of Hall of Fame DB, Deion Sanders

— 2024 Named first-team All-Big 12; Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year; Johnny Unitas Award winner

— 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year (AP)

GRADE: 8.0 (Year 1 Starter — 1st Round)

OVERALL RANK: 23

POSITION RANK: QB2

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Geno Smith with less arm talent

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Cleveland Browns selected Bowling Green TE Harold Fannin Jr. with the No. 67 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Harold Fannin Jr. is a fun, talented, and versatile tight end who expects to be used as a power slot in the NFL.

Fannin Jr. is having an incredible season from a production standpoint. He aligns in multiple positions for Bowling Green's offense—as the h-back, in the backfield, outside, in the slot, in bunch, and stacked sets. Fannin Jr. brings a strong pass-catching skill set to an NFL offense. He runs good routes against zone and off-man coverages. With good stems, body control, and play strength, he gets open routinely. He does a good job attacking angles and leverages against defenders, giving him cushion/playing from depth.

Fannin Jr. is a three-layer threat in the passing game, effectively impacting the game as a quick/short, intermediate, and downfield receiver.

He has displayed outstanding hands when targeted. He plucks the ball from the air with supreme confidence and plays well through contact at the catch point. Fannin Jr. has two drops on 171 targets throughout his career. He is a hassle to bring down once the football is in his possession. He is strong after the catch and can force missed tackles singled up in space with a defender.

As a blocker, Fannin Jr. is effective in both the run and passing games. He cuts off access points to the ball carrier well by using his body to wall off defenders. He possesses good and functional arm length to lock out at the point of attack. Fannin Jr. blocks well from h-back alignment on split flow concepts, in space as a lead blocker, and climbing to pick off defenders on the perimeter.

That said, as a traditional in-line blocker, he will not pass the test for most teams. Fannin Jr. does not bring outstanding power or size to the fight to be trusted against traditional NFL defensive ends/edge defenders in the run game. He doesn't generate enough force in man/down block situations to overpower defenders and drive them off the ball.

Fannin Jr. is a talented pass catcher, but his effectiveness in defeating physical press defenders is a work in progress. He needs to improve his use of hands in the contact window to counter physical punches and grabby defenders. His release package is underwhelming and repetitive, leading to struggles separating quickly from this style of defense. Due to his size, he will primarily be viewed and used as a big/power-slot tight end at the next level.

Overall, Harold Fannin Jr. projects as a highly functioning pass-catching tight end with alignment versatility. Creative offensive play callers are best if you want to maximize his skill set to its fullest potential. He will be able to generate favorable matchups based on his alignment fluidity. In the right offensive system and role, he can be a top-3 receiving option at the next level.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'3"

WEIGHT: 231

40-YARD DASH: 4.71

3-CONE: 6.97

SHUTTLE: 4.39

VERTICAL: 34"

BROAD: 9'10"

POSITIVES

— Vertical athleticism to threaten defenses up the seams.

— Strong-handed receiver with good hand-eye coordination when tracking the ball.

— Playmaking after the catch, good play strength, and functional agility in space.

— Potential matchup nightmare due to position and scheme versatility.

NEGATIVES

— Lacks the traditional height/weight NFL teams' desire for in-line tight ends.

— Lacks lower body strength at the point of attack as an in-line blocker.

— Can struggle when facing physical and handsy press coverage defenders.

— Needs to expand his release package to ensure transition as a big/power-slot in the NFL.

NOTES

— Unranked LB recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Mackey Award Semifinalist

— 2023: First-Team All-MAC

— Ranks inside top-10 receiving records for Bowling Green University

GRADE: 7.6 (Potential Impact Player — 2nd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 48

POSITION RANK: TE5

PRO COMPARISON: Isaiah Likely

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

The Cleveland Browns selected UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

A former walk-on turned All-American, Carson Schwesinger is one of the biggest risers in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He barely saw the field defensively and didn't even begin this past season as a starter before blossoming into one of the best and most productive linebackers in the country last fall.

Schwesinger's athleticism really stands out. He has springy legs and moves vertically and laterally well to cover a lot of ground on the field. That combined with loose hips allows him to be very effective in coverage.

He can drop and takeaway post routes in Tampa 2, tighten throwing windows when playing underneath and stay in phase against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.

The UCLA product has impressive instincts against the run, especially considering how little game experience he has. Paired with his speed and athleticism, he can beat offensive linemen to the spot to get unblocked tackles. Also, he knows when to crash downhill and attack gaps, and can match running backs' paths out of the backfield.

However, Schwesinger needs to spend some time in the weight room to get bigger and stronger as a run defender. Offensive linemen who can climb up to the second level quickly will swallow him up.

He gets pushed around far too easily and ends up on the ground too much as he needs to add lower body strength to anchor. Additionally, Schwesinger must improve his upper body strength to get extension and stack and shed or develop a move to escape blocks.

Overall, the former Bruin is a year or two away from being a complete player/full-time starter, but he has the makings of being an every-down contributor in the second half of his rookie contract. Schematically, he'd be best as a WILL linebacker right now and could become more scheme-versatile if his strength improves.

MEASUREMENTS AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 242

HAND: 9¼”

ARM: 31⅝”

WINGSPAN: 77½”

VERTICAL: 39.5"

BROAD: 10'7"

POSITIVES

— Very good athlete who can cover ground vertically and horizontally in a hurry.

— Athleticism and speed allows him to tighten windows when playing zone coverage, click and close, and help take away post routes when playing Tampa 2.

— Good change of direction and fluid hips to stay in phase or recover against running backs and tight ends in man coverage.

— Good eyes in zone coverage to locate threats coming into his area, and he can read the quarterback's eyes to step into passing lanes.

— Impressive instincts as a run defender, especially for someone with little game experience, and he has the speed to beat offensive linemen to the spot.

— Speed also gives him good sideline-to-sideline range.

— Showed flashes as a pass-rusher, using his athletic ability to get pressure when blitzing.

NEGATIVES

— Limited on-field experience, he didn't play much until this year and didn't begin 2024 as a starter.

— Lacks the size and strength to hold his ground in the running game when taking on blocks from offensive linemen.

— Hasn't shown the ability to use his quickness and athleticism to slip blocks.

— Struggles to get extension and/or disengage from blocks, needs to develop a move to escape.

— Doesn't have much pop behind his pads, even when crashing downhill at full speed.

NOTES

— Not ranked in the 2021 class, per 247Sports, originally a walk-on at UCLA

— No major injuries

— 2024: First-Team All-American, First-Team All-Big Ten

GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 66

POSITION RANK: LB4

PRO COMPARISON: Deion Jones

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry was noncommittal regarding Deshaun Watson's status for the 2025 season.

“It’s too early to say,” Berry said Thursday, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “I can say Deshaun has done a great job of rehabbing. He’s been in every day. He’s progressing and that’s really our focus, but it’s too early to say.”

Watson suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Week 7 of the 2024 season and re-injured his Achilles during the recovery process shortly after the regular season came to a close.

The 29-year-old struggled prior to the injury, averaging just 164 passing yards per game while tossing five touchdowns compared to three interceptions in seven appearances. He also recorded 148 total rush yards.

Tipped by Micah, picked by Kendricks! @dallascowboys

📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/KQeP7Jjmlu

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

The Browns could choose to address their quarterback uncertainty in the draft, as they own the No. 2 overall pick.

Cleveland has also made multiple short-term additions to potentially replace Watson in 2025. The Browns acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 12, sending Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a fifth-round draft choice in return.

Veteran passer Joe Flacco also signed a one-year contract with Cleveland on April 11. Flacco previously started five games for the Browns in 2023, winning Comeback Player of the Year honors.

With Watson's availability in 2025 still up in the air, Cleveland may continue pursuing other options under center.