Browns: 1 quote about each 2025 draft pick

Here is what Cleveland’s coaching staff has to say about this year’s rookie draft class.

It is a well-known fact that every NFL team loves its incoming rookie draft class.

Starting with the Tennessee Titans and the No. 1 overall selection in quarterback Cam Ward to the New England Patriots and Memphis defensive back Kobee Minor at No. 257, every team selected the exact player they wanted at the exact right pick over the three days of the draft.

Related: Browns QB competition: The chance to start will require extra work from the rookies

The Cleveland Browns are no exception, as every member of their seven-man draft class has a legitimate opportunity to make an impact on a roster that is slowly being rebuilt following the disaster of the 3-14 season in 2024.

Related: Browns Minicamp Recap – Which players shined?

Defensive tackle Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger will feature heavily on the defensive side of the ball. The running game will go as far as Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson can carry it. The second tight end spot is wide open for Harold Fannin Jr., and all eyes will continue to be on quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders throughout training camp and the preseason.

With the conclusion of the mandatory minicamp last week in Berea, the Browns are done with their offseason program, which also means the coaching staff has now had several opportunities to see what the rookies can bring to the field under a controlled environment and in the meeting room.

While everyone gets prepared for the summer break, let’s take a look at what the coaching staff has to say about the rookie class, with one quote for each player. (Quotes from team-provided transcripts).

Defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire on Mason Graham:

“But here’s a kid that every day he got better. Every day he came out here, he’s running to the ball as fast as he could. You see his rush game developing, you see him launching with his hands. It’s going to be hard obviously coming from a read scheme, going to an attack scheme. But he’s done a really good job and he’s great in the room, an extremely smart individual, hardworking. So I can’t wait to see him come out and play.”

Linebackers coach Jason Tarver on Carson Schwesinger:

“Carson really does a really good job of being able to focus on each play and making the next play his best play… that’s usually where a rookie will struggle, where he’s worried about what he just did or hangs on to it. He figures it out, asks great questions, runs to the ball. Really impressed with how he goes to the next play and how conscious he is within the play. That’s the learning curve that can really help a young man play fast in this league.”

Running backs coach Duce Staley on Quinshon Judkins:

“Every day as a skill group, we work on quick feet, that’s one of our things. No matter what the drill is, we’re going to work on bend and burst, getting out of breaks, planting that foot and going north. (Quinshon) came straight from college already knowing some of these drills, and he’s done well.”

Tight ends coach Christian Jones on Harold Fannin Jr.:

“He’s got really strong hands. He tracks the ball well. You see it on tape every time. When we were getting ready to see what he would be for us, the guy catches everything, tracks the ball well, and really adjusts to the ball in the air. He’s decisive and he’s balanced. He has a lot of balance in his play … and tends to keep his feet running when somebody’s coming at him. He does a really good job of knowing whether to split or make one miss and being really efficient in how he runs the ball.”

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Dillon Gabriel:

“Quarterbacks, especially, we want to be as process-driven as possible as opposed to results. As long as our process is in the right place, and our decision-making is in the right place, we’ll continue to coach the fundamentals and get the physical to follow it. But we want to focus on, ‘OK, is he processing at the high level? Is he making the right decisions? Is he making the right reads?’ And as that happens, now you see growth and continue to push him fundamentally to make sure that we’re executing.”

Running backs coach Duce Staley on Dylan Sampson:

“It all starts in the building first, having good meetings with him and being able to show him as a running back and a receiver. Also, meeting with [wide receivers coach] Chad O’Shea, going in there and going over some of the receiver splits and routes, and just being able to expand his game. Dylan is able to go play in the slot, and also he’s able to go and play on third down and maybe sprinkle in a little second down. … We’re looking at what we can do with Dylan as far as a receiver.”

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Shedeur Sanders:

“Yeah, he’s worked his tail off. You know, he’s really putting in a lot of work like all those guys are. But you could tell on the mental side of the game and learning the system and calling it and having that rhythm to it. He’s put a lot of work and time and effort into that, and then when you do that, the game starts to slow down and you can focus on finding completions. And he’s done a nice job of that as camps progressed.”

The Browns are still in the honeymoon phase with their draft picks as they head into the summer break.

But once everyone returns to town for the start of training camp, we’ll start to see what they really think and how well the players can live up to the expectations and pressures of making an NFL roster.