The NFL Draft has not been kind to Cleveland in recent years. From nonsensical draft day trades to wasting early-round picks on practice-squad caliber players, the Browns have stumbled their way through the draft for as long as I can remember. Whether or not the 2025 draft ends up as miserable as the others still remains to be seen. We’ll analyze each pick the Browns made over the weekend to see how many (if any) draftees can make an impact. Now, full disclosure, I am not a “draft expert”. I haven’t watched hours of tape like others have, but if playing EA Sports College Football 25 counts as draft expertise, then I’m basically Todd McShay. With that being said, let’s get started.
Round 1, No. 4: Mason Graham, DT, TTUN
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (Photo by Nick Lucero/Rivals.com)
Originally having the 2nd overall pick, Andrew Berry orchestrated a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cleveland traded the 2nd pick in the draft, a 4th, and a 6th to Jacksonville in exchange for the 5th overall pick, a 2nd, a 4th, and a 1st rounder in 2026. The move, viewed as a win for the Browns, resulted in the selection of DT Mason Graham. Now, I hate TTUN just as much as the next Buckeye fan(so much so that I used Mason Graham’s high school pic over his college pics), but I have to admit that Graham is a true game-wrecker. The 2025 Outland Award finalist and former collegiate wrestler brings a stout, versatile presence to a Cleveland defensive front that seriously lacked that presence last year. The Browns ranked 30th in rushing TDs allowed and 32nd in rushes over 20+ yards allowed.
Pick Grade A+
Round 2, No. 33: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
UCLA Bruins linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) sacks Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Mikey Keene (1) during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.
I seriously doubt a lot of people saw this pick coming. With the first selection of the 2nd round, Cleveland picked Carson Schwesinger out of UCLA. Now, while this pick doesn’t address an immediate team need, that doesn’t mean I like this any less. The good news is that Schwesinger was one of the best players available at the time of the pick. He led the Big Ten in tackles (136) and was a finalist for the Butkus Award. Even though he only started one year at UCLA, he’s shown great instincts and tackling form. The bad news is that this pick all but confirms that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah won’t be available for quite some time. JOK suffered a severe neck injury in week 8, and his playing status has been up in the air ever since. Here’s hoping that JOK makes a full recovery and he and Schwesinger make an elite LB tandem.
Pick Grade A-
Round 2, No. 36: Quinshon Judkins, RB, The Ohio State University
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Every time the Browns draft a Buckeye, an angel gets its wings, and boy, did they draft a good one. Quinshon Judkins, who was projected by some scouts to be a 1st rounder, was available in the 2nd and Cleveland didn’t hesitate to pick him. Both Judkins and his backfield teammate TreVeyon Henderson were available at the time of Cleveland’s pick; the team ended up going with, in my opinion, the better of the two. Clearly, Andrew Berry preferred the workhorse capabilities of Judkins as opposed to the electrifying but often injured Henderson. The former transfer from Ole Miss gives Cleveland a bruising, in-between-the-tackles style of running similar to a certain former Georgia Bulldog who needs to resign soon.
Draft Grade A
Round 3, No. 67: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Bowling Green Falcons tight end Harold Fannin Jr (0) catches a pass during the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
In my opinion, this was the Browns’ best selection of the draft. The 2024 Mackey Award stays home as Cleveland picks Harold Fannin Jr. as their first pick in the 3rd round. Fannin Jr quietly put together the best season for a TE in NCAA history. The 2024 MAC Player of the Year finished with 117 receptions and 1,555 yards, both best in the nation. The only knock on Fannin Jr. was his performance at the combine. He came in a little smaller (6’3 240), and significantly slower (4.71 40y) than ideal. Given his offensive versatility and run-after-catch skills, Fannin Jr should be able to challenge David Njoku for the TE1 position in a few years.
Draft Grade A+
At this point, the Browns are seemingly crushing the draft so far. What can go wrong at this point?
Round 3, No. 94: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) passes against Michigan State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Me and my big mouth.
It wouldn’t be a Cleveland Browns draft if there weren’t a pick that made you slam your head against a brick wall. The Browns selected Dillon Gabriel in a move that baffled draft experts and fans alike. Not to pick on the kid, but this was a horrible choice for a lot of reasons. You can point to him being outside the team’s age guardrails (he’s 25) or being extremely undersized for the QB position (5’11 205). The main reason why I hate this pick is simple: if Berry and Co. really wanted Gabriel, they could’ve had him in the 6th round. This was clearly a pick out of panic. Berry obviously wanted Jalen Milroe at 94, but he was picked up by the Seahawks two picks prior. The Browns could’ve addressed the need at WR or S, with Maryland WR Tai Felton and Notre Dame S Xavier Watts still available at the time. I hate to seem pessimistic, but this seems like a waste of a draft pick
Draft Grade D+
Round 4, No. 126: Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In another confusing, but seemingly more productive pick, the Browns selected Dylan Sampson. This pick could’ve been used on OT depth, or maybe another WR, but Andrew Berry chose to strengthen the HB room. If you can look past ignoring team needs, this is a good pick. The former Tennessee Volunteer ran for 1485 yards and 22 TDs last season, breaking his school’s single-season rushing TD record. He does have ball security problems (four fumbles on 258 carries) and he doesn’t provide much as a receiving threat, but given enough reps, I think these issues should work themselves out. The only disappointing thing about this pick is that Sampson would make the 4th HB on the roster. Teams nowadays don’t carry more than four HBs anymore, meaning that unless changes are made, fan-favorite Nick Chubb might’ve played his last game as a Brown. Whatever the future holds, the duo of Sampson and Judkins appears to set up the Cleveland backfield for years to come.
Draft Grade C+
Round 5, No. 144: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 28: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) passes during a college football game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the UCF Knights on September 28th, 2024 at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
I had a feeling Shedeur Sanders would be a Brown, I just didn’t think we’d pick him at 144. Sanders, who went through the most shocking slide in NFL draft history, is a polarizing prospect. Yes, he has talent, and he put up great numbers during his time in Boulder (2023: 3,230 yards, 27 TDs, 69.3 completion percentage, 2024: 4134 yards, 37 TDs, 74.0 completion percentage), but he also has his fair share of red flags. From concerns about his character to his allegedly tanking team draft interviews purposely, there were plenty of reasons why he slid into the 5th round. Sanders joins a now-crowded QB room with three on contract as of right now. This pick gives Cleveland an interesting decision to make: are they willing to deal with everything that comes with Sanders and if so, for how long? Browns fans like me are sick of QB drama. Putting up with Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield has tried my patience, and don’t even get me started on the train wreck that was Johnny Manziel. If Shedeur Sanders proves to be the franchise quarterback of the future, then I’m all for it, but if his play is being overshadowed by the headaches he’s giving, I look for his NFL career to be much shorter than his dad’s.
Draft Grade B-
Overall Draft Grade: B+
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