Predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft: Who are mock drafts predicting the Cleveland Browns will choose with the second overall pick?

CLEVELAND — After a challenging 3-14 season in 2024, the Cleveland Browns have secured the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Cleveland is currently in the spotlight due to their significant roster needs and crucial draft position. There is anticipation surrounding who the team might choose in the draft, as this decision could highly impact the future of the franchise.

The Browns find themselves picking in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2021. This came about as a result of trading their top picks in a major deal to secure quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans.

Here’s a breakdown of who mock drafts are projecting the Cleveland Browns to pick. 

Explanation: The Browns’ acquisition of the No. 2 pick opens up the possibility of selecting a quarterback. While there is also a chance they might consider trading down to explore various options if they opt not to go for a quarterback in this instance. However, for this particular mock draft conducted with the finalized non-playoff draft order, there were no trade-downs. Instead, the focus was on staying true to the draft rankings and providing the Browns with the top playmaker in the draft, Heisman Trophy recipient Travis Hunter.

Hunter was the third-highest-graded cornerback (90.6) and the sixth-highest-graded receiver (89.0) in the FBS. He could legitimately play on both sides of the ball in Cleveland. I would slot him in full time at cornerback with about 10-15 plays at receiver each week.

Reasoning: The Browns need downfield coverage help away from Denzel Ward, where their best option, Martin Emerson Jr., was bad, and they also battled a lot of injury issues. They also need another dynamic game-changing wide receiver to be their true No. 1 at times. Cleveland might have some other key needs, but can’t ignore Hunter’s special two-way threat.

Reasoning: This could end up as the defining pick of the draft, as Cleveland will have to consider how eager it is to make a splashy move at quarterback with the Deshaun Watson uncertainty hanging over the franchise for at least another year. But this roster isn’t particularly well-equipped to serve a rookie signal-caller, and it would be hard to go wrong with the Heisman Trophy winner, who’s considered by many to be the premier talent of this class. Questions about how Hunter will be utilized at the next level are likely to amplify over the coming months, with much of the early feedback indicating teams could prefer the two-way star at cornerback. In whatever capacity the Browns would care to use him, Hunter would surely make significant mark.

Reasoning: The best path forward for the team is landing one of the class’ top two quarterback prospects, keeping Watson on the bench and fanning the flames of hope for a organization that’s once again found itself at rock bottom. Fortunately, Cleveland’s floundering placed the organization in the perfect situation to select a top prospect with the second overall pick. 

“Ward is the draft class’ most talented and gifted passer,” Dame Parson said. “Stefanski needs a young quarterback that he can mold into his franchise QB. Ward’s abilities to put the ball down the field and drill tight-window throws are impressive. He flashes in pocket/on-time play with the innate ability to operate on the move and off-script with the best of them. 

“Placing Ward in a structured NFL offense with young, capable playmakers and an under-center run game can pay dividends for his overall development while providing the Browns with a potential franchise QB.”

Reasoning: The Browns have sunk an awful lot of money and draft picks into their secondary over the years, but turning down the opportunity to land a playmaker like Hunter just seems too illogical, even for this long-suffering franchise. The Browns surrendered 26 touchdown passes in 2024 with an NFL-worst four interceptions. Hunter’s combination of instincts and ball skills rivals some of the greatest I’ve seen at the position, earning comparisons to Charles Woodson and, of course, his college coach, Deion Sanders.

Reasoning: Good luck finding someone tougher than Shedeur Sanders. He’ll stand in the pocket and take hit (after hit after hit) to make a play downfield. He’s not the athlete and doesn’t have the arm strength of Cam Ward, but he does a lot of things really well. I would like to see him play on time more consistently, but part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line.