2025 NFL Draft Grades: Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns had one of the most memorable draft classes in recent history which included two quarterbacks, two running backs, and one of the most talked-about picks of the entire event in Shedeur Sanders. While the decision to trade down and pass on Travis Hunter will be scrutinized for years, Cleveland added several players who can contribute right away and will be long-term pieces for this team.
Mason Graham – Round 1, IDL, Michigan – Grade: C
Mason Graham is a very good player, but trading down and passing on a generational prospect in Travis Hunter is unjustifiable to me. Graham was my IDL3, still a first-round grade, but if you are going to pass up on Hunter, this needed to be a blue-chip player. The strong trade return package keeps this from being lower.
Carson Schwesinger – Round 2, LB, UCLA – Grade: B+
Carson Schwesinger is a good pick. He’s a day-one starter with good upside in the second round, and provides insurance if Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah continues to struggle with injuries.
Quinshon Judkins – Round 2, RB, Ohio State – Grade: A
Quinshon Judkins was the best pick they made. They severely lacked depth in their running back room, and Judkins fits the scheme extremely well. The Browns will get back some of what they lost in Nick Chubb with Judkins.
Harold Fannin – Round 3, TE, Bowling Green – Grade: A-
Harold Fannin is a versatile traditional H-back who can move around the field and provide flexibility for a team that lacks depth at the position. Fannin will fit in as TE2 on the depth chart behind David Njoku, but will contribute effectively in 12 personnel and has the chance to emerge as this team’s best option out of the slot as a receiver.
Dillon Gabriel – Round 3, QB, Oregon – Grade: B+
Dillon Gabriel is a very pro-ready quarterback who will stick around a while in the NFL as a very good backup. Now, will this be enough to justify a third-rounder for a rebuilding team? Maybe, but Gabriel will give this team stability at the QB position.
Dylan Sampson – Round 4, RB, Tennessee – Grade: A-
The Browns doubled up on RBs with Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson in round 4. I like Sampson. I have some questions about taking two RBs in a rebuilding year, but he complements Judkins well and should put the nail in Jerome Ford’s coffin, which the coaching staff has made clear they’ve wanted for a while.
Shedeur Sanders – Round 5, QB, Colorado – Grade: B
The shock of the draft was Shedeur Sanders in the 5th round. I was low on him with a third-round grade, I thought he was one of the most overrated prospects in recent memory, but here in the 5th round, I don’t know what to make of it. I obviously can’t speak to his character, but his whole situation certainly doesn’t look great. There is a chance they land a starting QB with this pick, but with everything that occurred, from taking Gabriel over him to the draft room reaction, this just screams ownership forcing the front office to take him. At this point, it feels unlikely that it works out for either side, but there is no denying the pure value.
Final Grade: B