WKYC: Who will the Cleveland Browns pick with the No. 2 draft selection in 2025?

After a challenging 3-14 season in 2024, the Cleveland Browns have secured the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

With significant roster needs and a pivotal draft position, all eyes are on Cleveland as speculation grows about who they might select as the pick could shape the franchise’s future. 

This marks the Browns’ first time selecting in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2021, as they traded away their top picks in the blockbuster deal to acquire QB Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans.

Here’s a breakdown of who mock drafts are projecting the Cleveland Browns to pick. 

Reasoning: The Browns getting the No. 2 pick means that a quarterback could be in play. I also like the idea of them exploring all options to trade down, especially if they don’t take a quarterback here (I would not). But with this being our first mock with the solidified non-playoff draft order, I didn’t want to do any trade-downs. Instead, I stay true to the big board and give the Browns the best playmaker in the draft in Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Hunter was the third-highest-graded cornerback (90.6) and the sixth-highest-graded receiver (89.0) in the FBS. He could legitimately play on both sides of the ball in Cleveland. I would slot him in full time at cornerback with about 10-15 plays at receiver each week.

See their full coverage HERE.

Reasoning: The Browns need downfield coverage help away from Denzel Ward, where their best option, Martin Emerson Jr., was bad, and they also battled a lot of injury issues. They also need another dynamic game-changing wide receiver to be their true No. 1 at times. Cleveland might have some other key needs, but can’t ignore Hunter’s special two-way threat.

See their full coverage HERE. 

Reasoning: This could end up as the defining pick of the draft, as Cleveland will have to consider how eager it is to make a splashy move at quarterback with the Deshaun Watson uncertainty hanging over the franchise for at least another year. But this roster isn’t particularly well-equipped to serve a rookie signal-caller, and it would be hard to go wrong with the Heisman Trophy winner, who’s considered by many to be the premier talent of this class. Questions about how Hunter will be utilized at the next level are likely to amplify over the coming months, with much of the early feedback indicating teams could prefer the two-way star at cornerback. In whatever capacity the Browns would care to use him, Hunter would surely make significant mark.

See their full coverage HERE. 

Reasoning: The best path forward for the team is landing one of the class’ top two quarterback prospects, keeping Watson on the bench and fanning the flames of hope for a organization that’s once again found itself at rock bottom. Fortunately, Cleveland’s floundering placed the organization in the perfect situation to select a top prospect with the second overall pick. 

“Ward is the draft class’ most talented and gifted passer,” Dame Parson said. “Stefanski needs a young quarterback that he can mold into his franchise QB. Ward’s abilities to put the ball down the field and drill tight-window throws are impressive. He flashes in pocket/on-time play with the innate ability to operate on the move and off-script with the best of them. 

“Placing Ward in a structured NFL offense with young, capable playmakers and an under-center run game can pay dividends for his overall development while providing the Browns with a potential franchise QB.”

See their full coverage HERE. 

Reasoning: The Browns have sunk an awful lot of money and draft picks into their secondary over the years, but turning down the opportunity to land a playmaker like Hunter just seems too illogical, even for this long-suffering franchise. The Browns surrendered 26 touchdown passes in 2024 with an NFL-worst four interceptions. Hunter’s combination of instincts and ball skills rivals some of the greatest I’ve seen at the position, earning comparisons to Charles Woodson and, of course, his college coach, Deion Sanders.

See their full coverage HERE. 

Reasoning: Good luck finding someone tougher than Shedeur Sanders. He’ll stand in the pocket and take hit (after hit after hit) to make a play downfield. He’s not the athlete and doesn’t have the arm strength of Cam Ward, but he does a lot of things really well. I would like to see him play on time more consistently, but part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line.

See their full coverage HERE.