Draft Season can officially commence this week with the two biggest collegiate All-Star games happening in the Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. Add in that the deadlines have come and passed for underclassmen to declare for the draft and we can now start really dissecting the 2025 NFL Draft class.

With that, let’s get going with this week’s mock which instead of using a mock draft simulator, I’m going to use PFF’s Big Board.

Round One

Pick 2: Cam Ward, Quarterback, Miami (FL): The Browns earned this right so to speak to have the second pick in the draft and they need to solve the future of the quarterback position. With silly season starting last week with the Tennessee Titans saying they won’t pass on a “generational talent”, I took that as two ways. Either A) they’re trading the pick for whoever wants Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward or B) they’re taking a non-QB in either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.

The Browns shouldn’t play it scared when it comes to the quarterback and that has seemed to be Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski’s stance since coming into the organization. They didn’t re-sign Baker Mayfield and took the mightiest of swings in the Deshaun Watson trade. What would stop them this time from taking another big swing on a potential franchise quarterback which if given the choice of the top two, it would be Cam Ward.

Round 2

Pick 33: Wyatt Milum, Offensive Tackle, West Virginia: We’ll know for sure this week what league personnel thinks of Milum’s future when he participates in the Senior Bowl because some are saying he’s a tackle and some say he’ll kick inside to be a guard at the next level. Milum was excellent as the Mountaineers left tackle giving up zero sacks and 30 total pressures in 1,155 pass blocking snaps. The thinking is the Browns are confident on Dawand Jones as the future at left tackle but with his durability concerns already in his young career, I’m not taking that risk.

Round 3

Pick 67: Harold Fannin Jr., Tight End, Bowling Green: The Browns need to add another offensive weapon to the mix and also need to add depth to the tight end position. Fannin Jr. is slight in stature so he could be used as a hybrid TE/WR at the next level but despite being only listed at 230 lbs. he isn’t afraid to get physical as he was a solid run blocker for BGSU. Much like David Njoku in 2017 , Fannin is only going to be 21 years old when he steps onto an NFL field for the first time so the Browns can take him and mold him into the tight end they see which could ultimately be Njoku’s predecessor here in Cleveland.

Pick 94: Andrew Mukuba, Safety, Texas: The Browns have been searching for their franchise free safety since Teshaun Gipson and their free agent signings haven’t panned out so well in the past several years (John Johnson III, Juan Thornhill). Not saying it’s time to crown a third-round pick as a potential franchise player at the position but Mukuba is as solid as they come at the deep safety position. This past season for the Longhorns he allowed a 12.1 QB rating when quarterbacks targeted him and also allowed zero touchdowns.

Round 4

Pick 102: Sai’vion Jones, EDGE, LSU: The main motto on my Browns podcast has been “You Can Never Have Enough Edge Rushers” and even though the Browns currently have four on the roster, I still think there’s room for another. Ogbo Okoronkwo could be a cap casualty this offseason and Alex Wright is entering his contract year. Jones dominated this past season for the Tigers defensive front with 43 pressures including five sacks and was also excellent in run defense as well. Grooming another pass rusher behind Myles Garrett and Isaiah McGuire would be the smart thing to do in Jim Schwartz’s defense.

Round 5

Pick 165: Ollie Gordon, Running Back, Oklahoma State: Gordon dominated in 2023 with over 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns and while he was still productive in 2024, it was a major stepback for the once emerging superstar. Gordon still averaged 4.5 yards per carry (6.1 in 2023) and posted his second consecutive season of 30+ receptions. He’s more of a physical back which Cleveland could use regardless of the result of the Nick Chubb situation but with this deep running back class, he’s worth the selection here on Day 3.

Round 6

Pick 192: Dont’e Thornton Jr., Wide Receiver, Tennessee: At this point of the draft, you’re looking at traits that can carry over to the next level. How about a 6’5 wide receiver with good seperation and breakaway speed. Thornton never put up the numbers until this past year but he showed up averaging 25.5 yards per reception and six touchdowns. In the sixth round, he’s worth the lottery ticket and hoping your coaching staff can develop him.

Pick 200: Ty Robinson, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska: The Browns seem to be solid at defensive tackle but Shelby Harris and Dalvin Tomlinson could be out the door by the 2026 season. Michael Hall and Jowon Briggs showed flashes but nothing to solidify the position group just yet. Robinson is disruptive as a pass rusher but it was only one season in which he did that. He has the tools and will be able to show them this week at the Senior Bowl in front of some of the Browns coaching staff members.

Pick 204: Dylan Fairchild, Offensive Guard, Georgia: Zak Zinter may very well be the heir apparent to Joel Bitonio at left guard but there’s no one currently being groomed to one day replace Wyatt Teller at right guard. Fairchild has experience at both guard positions and allowed just one sack in his two seasons as a starter for the Bulldogs. Fairchild is also solid as a run blocker especially in zone scheme.

Pick 216: Teddye Buchanan, Linebacker, UCLA: The Browns could use some linebacker depth with Devin Bush, Khaleke Hudson and Winston Reid heading towards free agency. Buchanan was one of the best linebackers for the Bruins but is undersized at his position.

Pick 217: Robert Longerbeam, Cornerback, Rutgers: A solid cornerback in both man and zone coverage, Longerbeam held quarterbacks to a QB rating of 73.3 or less in each of the last three seasons for Rutgers and forced 10 incompletions this past season. Browns have added a cornerback in each draft cycle since Andrew Berry became General Manager in 2020.

Round 7

Pick 242: Jalen Rivers, Offensive Tackle, Miami (FL): Browns double dip at offensive tackle in this mock draft and add someone familiar to protecting Cam Ward’s blindside. Rivers will be at the Senior Bowl this coming week and has experience both as a tackle as well as a guard.

Pick 256: LaJohntay Wester, Wide Receiver, Colorado: Also double dipping at wide receiver here because behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, the room needs some depth but I’d expect a veteran addition to come through free agency or trade. Wester is at the Shrine Bowl and has been turning heads in practice early on with his accleration and ability to get open.