Copr. Browns Nation 2025
The Cleveland Browns currently hold the number two pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. To some, the thought of picking a shiny new franchise quarterback is almost a no brainer. One of these signal callers however, has all but stated outright that he will not play for the struggling franchise; and at the heart of it all lies current QB Deshaun Watson, who still has two years left remaining on a $230 million contract that he has yet to earn a cent of. With all the different options that lay ahead for the ‘mistake on the lake’ this April, we’ll take a closer look at what the fallout could look like in both Cleveland and East Rutherford, NJ.
Copr. ESPN 2024
Assuming Tennesee’s being honest
The Tennesee Titans stated earlier this week that they won’t pass on picking a “generational talent” in the draft, and based on that statement we can only assume that they plan on signing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter out of Colorado first overall. It’s still believed by most NFL franchises that this will be an extremely shallow talent pool at the QB position, with Hunter’s Colorado teammate Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward being considered the only two signal callers worth a selection on night 1.
If the Titans do intend to pick Hunter, then the Browns would have almost no choice but to draft Cam Ward. As previously stated, Sanders and his father Deion have expressed extreme concern with Cleveland’s ability to support a rookie QB, as they’ve failed to do so in countless examples since their return to the league in 1999.
The Giants themselves have been in serious talks to sign Sanders if Tennessee doesn’t pick him at 1, and if the Music City wants to wait another year for what’s expected to be a much deeper QB talent group in 2026, then the Giants will almost definitely have their hopeful quarterback of the future in three months.
Copr. NBC Sports 2024
What if the Titans pick Ward?
Assuming that Sanders wouldn’t sign with the Browns under any circumstances, then the only logical option would be to pick up Hunter and potentially sign a bridge QB with Deshaun Watson most likely being unable to play this upcoming year after re-tearing his ACL during rehab. Sam Darnold will be considered the top QB to hit the market this year, and it’s still unclear whether the Browns intend on keeping Watson despite the huge investment they’ve made in the former Houston hopeful. One thing that’s certain however, is that Hunter would be a massive addition at receiver to aid the current WR1 in Cleveland, Jerry Jeudy, and whoever will be receiving snaps in September.
Copr. College Football Network 2025
This is another scenario where the G-men would pick Sanders at third. Hunter, Sanders, and Ward could go in any combination of orders that the mind could imagine, and with free agency still a month and a half away, a clearer vision for who gets taken off the board in April first is only now beginning to come into view.
-Jack Barber
Works Cited
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/21753/deshaun-watson
https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/nfl-schedule/2025-important-nfl-dates
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/_/year/2025/position/qb
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