WFNY RoundTable: 2025 NFL Draft

Question 1: With Cam Ward locked in to Tennessee with the No. 1 overall, Cleveland has plenty of options. Who is your pick, Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter?

Seth: The pick is in…with the #2 selection, the Browns select Travis Hunter and get the best player in the draft. Cleveland is desperate for an infusion of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and pairing Hunter with Jeudy, Tillman, Njoku, and a revamped RB room gives the offense a shot at being league average. Hunter’s ball skills are as elite as it gets, and he will provide the Browns WR room athleticism we haven’t seen since peak Josh Gordon. We haven’t even talked about the defensive side of the ball, where he has a good chance at playing a handful of high leverage snaps in Jim Schwartz’s simplified attack defense. Turn in the card and enjoy him the next decade.

Michael: You misspelled Mason Graham. I get it, DT tend to go later than they should then everyone wonders why they didn't go higher later, but Graham was the most disruptive defender in college football. I do understand the argument to get more offensive weapons for a team that struggled on that side though, so I won't be disappointed with Mr. Hunter.

Andrew: If my choices are only Hunter or Carter, it's an easy Hunter pick for me. I think if any player in this draft has a possibility to be a transcendent mega-star hall of famer, it's Hunter. He's one of the best pure football players and athletes I have ever seen. There are players I like a lot more than Abdul Carter, but I'm not sure there's any player I like more than Travis Hunter in this draft.

Gerbs: I have wavered so much on this pick. There was a time I thought it was Shedeur, I’ve been on Hunter for awhile, and now I’m waffling on Carter. The injuries scare me, but the thought of putting this freak athlete opposite the Charizard of freak athletes in Myles Garrett has me excited. I said it on the WFNY BrownsCast this past week: a Carter pick is something the prototypically smart teams like Philadelphia or Baltimore would do. It’s safer, sure, but man would it be a good one.

Question 2: Since it seems unlikely that Cleveland will take a QB at 1.2, who is the quarterback you most want them to take (excluding Ward). The one you want the least?

Seth: We’re in a 1 QB draft and the Browns don’t have the #1 pick. Because of that, I’m more interested in where the Browns select their QB vs. who. Give me one of Riley Leonard or Will Howard in the 4th round and stash them. My least preferred QB option is trading up from #33, giving up significant assets, and selecting QB2 (Sanders/Milroe/Dart) in the mid-to-late first round. The Browns have too many roster needs to give up additional capital.

Michael: Not sure QB is out of the question at 1.2, but it is instructive how far opinions are on QBs this year outside of "Ward is QB1." Who I want depends on where they are available... if the NFL is really out on Ewers and we can get him in Round 3-4, OK, that's my gamble. Milroe is the scariest to me because you have to rely on him making a Josh Allen type improvement in his throwing and reading capabilities. If he does, then he'll be amazing but there are 10 Lockers for every Allen.

Andrew: The QB I want the most is Will Howard in the 4th round. No risk, only possible reward. Let him sit, learn, and continue to develop under Stefanski's watch. Eventually, maybe he becomes a starter, or else you got a solid backup QB with a 4th round pick. I don't see the downside. The QB I want the least is whichever QB we inevitably take in the late first round or second round. I am totally fine with staying away from QB in this draft.

Gerbs: I’ve fallen in love with Jalen Milroe. The traits are all there, and the space between the ears is the biggest one. The Browns NEED to get high character guys in the building, after taking too many risks with “we can fix their personality” type guys in the past. Milroe is the project QB to end all project QBs, a cannon arm and could easily be a running back if he committed to the role, but with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett in the QB room, they have two guys that could be starters and let Milroe develop behind them. Browns new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was the OC at Alabama when Milroe had his best year. Let’s let them sync up again and make it happen.

Question 3: Cleveland has roster issues up and down. What is the one position they need to get help at in the draft?

Seth: They need to address RB. Ford is not a difference maker, Chubb remains unsigned, and none of the guys they brought in last year are worthy of a roster spot. Good news, this class is loaded and they should be able to find a guy from R3 à R5, maybe two. Honorable mentions: QB, TE, OL, WR, LB, S.

Michael: I'm not sure the Browns are as bad off as 2024 appeared, and I believe in taking the best players rather than force-fitting need. FA addressed some OL concern (biggest underlying worry other than QB). But, they need more playmakers whether they are at WR, TE, or RB.

Andrew: If Nick Chubb is really done, the Browns need a legit, elite top tier starting RB. Stefanski's offense thrives when the RB is doing their thing. I would love to see them address this concern earlier rather than later in this draft.

Gerbs: In a draft where there are almost too many good prospects, running back seems locked in, but I also think Cleveland needs to get weapons in general on offense. Wideout, tight end, running back…nobody would be too upset if the first four picks were all offensive players.

Question 4: Who is the one prospect you want the Browns to select?

Seth: Travis Hunter. They need an infusion of talent and he’s the most talented player in the draft, with the ability to provide unique value while playing both sides of the ball.

Michael: Focusing on the non-obvious picks, my favorite players not talked about enough include Aireontae Ersery (OT, Minn), Lathan Ransom (S, tOSU), Shemar James (LB, Florida), Savion Williams (WR, TCU), Mason Taylor (TE, LSU), and Jordan James (RB, Oregon).

Andrew: Look, I'm an OSU homer. I would be thrilled to get to keep rooting for Will Howard or Captain Jack Sawyer. But the Buckeye I might want the most is Lathan Ransom, who is not only an underrated safety prospect (IMO), but also a really great person who would be a lot of fun to root for in a secondary with Denzel Ward.

Gerbs: Here I am again, just a man, standing in front of a war room, asking for high character people. And they don’t any more leader-y than Cam Skattebo, running back from Arizona State. In his bowl game this year against Texas, the man threw up on the sidelines, needed an IV, then passionately lead his team back from the brink with multiple long touchdown scores, including one pass. I NEED Skattebo in my locker room, plus he would help the team in a position they have an issue at.

Question 5: Fill in the blank: "The Browns draft will be a success if "

Seth: They start to rebuild this roster and come away with 3 legitimate starters. The roster is old, expensive, injury prone, and not dynamic. This is a draft about depth and the Browns need to nail at least 3 picks if they want to begin catching up with the top of the AFC North, let alone the AFC as a whole.

Michael: The Browns draft will be a success if they contend for a playoff berth in 2025. That's the only measure of success in the NFL, and the Browns will need contributions from this draft to do it.

Andrew: They don't get baited into taking a QB just because it's a dire need. I think FA is for plugging holes, while the draft is for acquiring talent. Take the best players available and reload this roster with some young depth that can play. No reaches, no gambles, no projects. Just draft studs who can contribute this season.

Gerbs: They can find three starters with their first four picks. I’m fine if they go with a QB, but don’t overreach. Unless they are getting Ward from Tennessee, there isn’t a QB worth multiple future picks. Just let the draft come to you and figure it out from there. In the last three drafts, they have a total of 3-4 “starters” in 22 picks, and that’s including Jerome Ford and Cedric Tillman, who could be overtaken by picks this year. Get good dudes.

Question 6: Fill in the blank: "The Browns draft will be a failure if "

Seth: They spend significant assets to trade up from #33 to select a project at QB. #33 is a premier pick that should be a two or three contract guy. Don’t go chasing waterfalls, or project QBs while you have holes all over the roster. The Watson trade decimated this franchise, they need to be smart, patient, and most importantly realistic while they build it.

Michael: The Browns draft will be a success if they don't contend for a playoff berth in 2025. A bad year and we might be starting over, and whomever we pick might not even be given a long term chance to be successful. Let's not have a bad year.

Andrew: They waste another draft class on a bunch of players that are projects who hardly see the field at all this season. For far too long the Browns have been unable to reload the depth chart through the draft, and they have paid that price in free agency dollars and lost cap space. At some point Andrew Berry has to start hitting on some guys who can just flat out play.

Gerbs: They devolve into thinking they need certain players or positions. I’m fine moving up a few picks to get a guy you want to ensure they are yours, but coming out of nowhere and trading future assets for guys is not needed.