Well it’s that time and quite honestly it was time a month ago.

The Cleveland Browns are 3-11 and one of the biggest disappointments in football and in my opinion this is the worst Browns season since 1999. The team was expected to make it back to the playoffs for a second consecutive season but the year derailed quickly and now we’re sitting with a lot of questions and an unknown future despite what ownership is telling \the media and fanbase.

When I look at what the Browns need heading into 2025 and beyond, one would say quarterback but I’m not the biggest fan of this class and as it stands with the current draft order, the Browns won’t be in a position to draft Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward who are the consensus top two.

If I was running the Browns, they need to address the offensive line this offseason both in talent as well as coaching. The current group is getting older and needs to get some, young, affordable talent injected into the room and that’s where we’re leading things off with my first mock draft which also includes a trade back.

Round 1

*TRADE*: The Cleveland Browns trade the 7th overall pick along with the 105th and 183rd selections to the Dallas Cowboys for the 14th pick, the 45th pick and 2026 3rd and 5th round selections.

Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas: Had LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell been there at 7, I likely wouldn’t have traded back and also considered selecting Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Campbell and Banks are neck and neck for the top offensive tackle in the draft class and the Browns absolutely need to find their future at the position with Jed Wills expected to become a free agent this offseason.

Round 2

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State: Even with Jerry Jeudy’s ascension over the last six games and Cedric Tillman’s breakout prior to his concussion, the Browns need to add more to the wide receiver room. Egbuka had a nice bounce back 2024 season after an injury riddled 2023 and will be another of the many talented playmakers who have come out of Columbus with solid hands and speed that will translate to the NFL.

*TRADE*: The Cleveland Browns trade the 45th selection (via Dallas) to the Detroit Lions for the 63rd pick, the 131st pick and a 2026 3rd round pick.

Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M: The Browns need to continue adding to the defensive line with Shelby Harris and Dalvin Tomlinson getting older. They added Mike Hall Jr. in the draft last season and he has shown some promise when he’s been out on the field this season but that doesn’t mean stop adding there. Turner has the potential to be a run stuffer with also some pass rushing abilities with at least 19 pressures in each of his last three seasons with the Aggies.

Round 3

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina: The running back draft class has so much potential that the Browns could go for any option from top to bottom but it’s time to look towards the future of the position, especially with Nick Chubb heading towards free agency as well as now that he has a broken foot and will be rehabbing that during the offseason. Hampton was explosive during his last two seasons with the Tar Heels posting back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons and he will be a factor in the passing game out of the backfield.

Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma: I loved Stutsman as a prospect during last year’s draft cycle but he returned to Oklahoma for his senior season. Stutsman posted over 100 tackles for the third consecutive season and while he’s a liability in coverage, he would be a nice linebacker to pair up with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah should he able to return to action following a serious neck injury which has sidelined him for much of this season.

Round 4

Kamari Ramsey, Safety, USC: The Browns need to go looking for a free safety this offseason as the Juan Thornhill experiment has not been a good one. Ronnie Hickman will probably get the first crack should the current defensive coaching staff stays in tact but they still need to add depth behind Hickman and Grant Delpit. Ramsey was excellent in coverage for the Trojans and would be better suited as the free safety because he’s not the best tackler.

Round 5

Charles Grant, iOL, William & Mary: Grant is listed as an interior lineman and also as an offensive tackle so in this scenario, the Browns are drafting him to hopefully provide some interior depth behind Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller with the hopes of grooming him along with 2024 third-round pick Zak Zinter as the future of the guard position in Cleveland.

Round 6

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana: The Browns should take a quarterback at some point in the draft because Dorian Thompson-Robinson hasn’t shown much that you can peg him as the backup or some type of developmental quarterback on the roster for the future. Rourke has good size, has shown the ability to take care of football (20 interceptions in 1,252 pass attempts) and can be a factor as a runner (13 rushing touchdowns) throughout his college career in Ohio and Indiana.

Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois: The Browns keep trying to find pass rushers. They aim to support Myles Garrett. They have succeeded with Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire. Jacas has great size at 6’3 and 275 lbs. He was very disruptive for the Fighting Illini. Last season, he recorded 43 pressures and 8 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.

Round 7

Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt: The Browns don’t have much of a future or depth behind David Njoku at the position. Taking a flyer on Stowers late wouldn’t be a bad idea. He is not the best blocker at the position. Still, he was great after the catch among college football tight ends. With his 6’4, 235 lb frame, he could be a great target down in the red zone for the Browns in multiple tight end formations.

Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida: Andrew Berry has selected a cornerback in every one of his drafts and they’ve all shown some potential at one point during their tenures in Cleveland. Marshall has regressed in his last two seasons with the Gators but he is a bigger, athletic corner which Berry has shown to like with his selections of Martin Emerson and Myles Harden in the past couple drafts.