While plenty could change over the next month, it sounds like we’re starting to get some clarity atop the draft board. During an appearance on NFL Live today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Browns are “leaning towards” selecting Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the second-overall pick (h/t ESPN Cleveland).
Schefter cautions that things could change, but he believes Carter is “tracking to being a Brown.” Schefter also notes that the draft’s real intrigue starts with the Giants at No. 3, an indication that the Titans are destined to select Cam Ward with the first-overall pick.
There’s been plenty of speculation about how the Browns would approach this year’s draft. Deshaun Watson is under contract for two more years, but the QB’s second Achilles tear has put his future with Cleveland in doubt. As a result, some pundits have assumed that the organization would jump at one of the draft’s top-two QB prospects, and with Ward trending towards the number-one pick, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders would seemingly be a natural selection.
On the flip side, neither Sanders nor Ward are considered blue-chip prospects, and the Browns would surely be fading more decorated prospects if they chose a QB at No. 2. Carter has always loomed as an option, as the pass rusher is considered one of the best non-QB prospects in the draft. The other contender for that unofficial title would be Colorado’s Travis Hunter. For what it’s worth, the Browns have met with all four of the aforementioned prospects.
Carter climbed to the top of draft boards following a standout 2024 campaign where he collected 12 sacks and a Division I-leading 24 tackles for loss. After entering the pre-draft process with a shoulder injury, Carter was reportedly dealing with a foot issue. Ultimately, it was determined the player didn’t have to go under the knife, and the injuries clearly haven’t done anything to hurt his draft stock.
If Cleveland does ultimately opt for Carter, they’d be forming one of the best pass-rush tandems in the NFL. The Browns committed big money to keep Myles Garrett in Cleveland, but that extension apparently hasn’t dissuaded the front office from pursuing the same position in the draft.
With Ward penciled in at No. 1 and Carter at No. 2, all eyes will turn to the Giants at No. 3. The team has also been mentioned as a landing spot for a QB prospect, even after they added Russell Wilson as their presumed 2025 starter. If the team decides against selecting Sanders, then Hunter would presumably be the team’s target at No. 3.
Poor kid.
I read an article today that the Browns were talking to Dallas about getting Dak.
Was it written by a high school student?
My toddler could write a story about something the Browns were considering and we’d all have to take it seriously. Don’t forget, this organization gave the largest guaranteed deal in the history of the NFL . . . to Watson. Anything is possible.
Google it. It was in a few different locations. whether it has merit or not, I don’t know. But it does like seem a Browns type of move.
I don’t see how they could do that with Dak’s huge contract.
I’m sure it’s pure speculation. But it certainly made the rounds today on sports media.
Google it he says lol. Try reading the quite a few more articles and tweets by people with real track records on reporting, and who aren’t a Browns broadcaster talking on his podcast with zero sources, who have debunked this myth as categorically false.
“I read an article” is in essence the same as “some guy told me”.
Ya it got debunked. Never made much sense
The Cowboys’ dead cap hit on trading Dak would put them $17 million over the cap even if they did it after June 1st. Not that it would financially make sense for Cleveland either. Or that Jerry Jones would ever swallow one of his own decisions that hard.
Wow. Browns fans getting a little edgy and recommending journalistic integrity. Because we all know the Browns would never do anything that didn’t make sense . . .
You know what else is Brown?
Oh! I know, I know lol
They have bigger needs elsewhere, obviously (offensive tackle, quarterback, possibly an exorcism), but a Garrett-Carter pairing would be cool as hell, and you don’t dig your way out of problems by flailing to fill needs with picks instead of swinging on likely stars at premium positions.
Agreed, I think Hunter makes more sense for them but I cant fault them for dreaming of a Garrett – Carter pairing. That would be fun to watch.
I still have the Browns taking Will Campbell at 2.
They need help at tackle and Campbell is a can’t miss prospect.
Dawand Jones is terrible and Conklin is washed
Will Campbell can miss if you’re counting on him being a tackle. I think he’s more likely to be a guard and two overall is too rich for him. You can’t reach for need like that. Trade back if you’re stuck on offensive line.
I don’t think taking the top o-liner in the top 3 is a reach in any draft.
And even if he does eventually move to guard, looks like Bitonio already has one foot out the door after retiring and then back peddling his decision earlier this offseason
Regardless it makes way more sense than Carter now that Myles is locked up.
You don’t reach for need that hard. Campbell is going to be a good pro, but he’s not that level of prospect. It’s not like having one great edge player means you don’t have room for another.
I don’t think it’s a reach to take Campbell or Mbembu at 2 and give your QB a fighting chance.
The worst thing they can do is go into camp with Dawand Jones starting again
Like I said, trade back if you’re insistent on offensive line in the first round. Passing on Hunter and Carter for an offensive lineman in this draft would be lighting value on fire.
Browns have done worse in the past
Goku: Let me correct your statement for you. The BROWNS have REPETITIVELY done WORSE in the past.
Did you watch the Superbowl? Da Browns will get this pick correct if they take this bookend to Garrett. Excellent pick at 2.
That would get everyone in the front office fired
That’s a huge reach.
They have so many holes that you just take the best player available regardless of the position.
I’m sure Stefanski wants a clean pocket more than an extra pass rusher on what is already a pretty decent Defense (at least when they’re not stuck on the field permanently)
Shouldn’t it say NEITHER sanders nor ward
Carter or Hunter is absolutely the right pick if Ward isn’t there, and Carter is the more sure thing of the two.
Hunter will not stick at CB, and the jump as a WR to the NFL level with real defensive backs who actually know how to cover receivers will be a rude awakening for him.
Neither solves their O-line issues
And I also think Hunter can be elite at either position , he just has to pick one
No way will he be elite at corner.
A coach who can develop offensive lineman might help. Chuckling 💩
Yeah Hunter scares me as not as good at either position as the hype that he can play 2 spots infers. Sort of like a baseball switch hitter that can only hit no higher than .265 from both sides
That’s 25 points higher than the league average last year.
Way to miss the point.
The point I guess is that he’ll be above average at both positions
Is there any rationale whatsoever that he won’t be an elite corner?
He’s the best corner in the draft
What are you guys talking about?
These picks are too valueable to buy a player position you already locked up. You can change your luck here. Opportunity. I think they are playing great chess. Letting people know. The best DE will not be available at pick 3. lol. Surface area leverage assumes the best qb is taken off the board. They have to stilll play the qb hand and invite sanders out 2-3 times too. But DE is my choice for trading pick too!
Foolish comment and ill-advised as well.
I’ll come back and find you. And we check in on this. Pilsbury.
Says a guy with the handle “Jackson Rubbit.”
Do the Browns know who they are starting at QB? Are they going to trade for Cousins or Carr? Last I heard CLE was willing to trade the #2 pick.
Sanders is going to be the 2nd QB taken in the draft, if CLE isn’t interested is another team willing to trade up for him or are other teams predicting he is going to to slip out of the top-5? NYG can just wait for Sanders at #3 if CLE isn’t taking him, so why trade up? If NY doesn’t want him LV could take him at #6 to sit behind Geno for a year. Would the Jets at #7 want to have him to sit behind Fields for a year? (I don’t think that would be great for the locker room) I think the Saints at #9 is as far a Sanders could potentially fall (doubt he will fall this far). The Saints could draft Sanders and trade Carr in the same night. Carr has a no trade clause but he would be willing to move for some guaranteed money (he isn’t due anything after this year). CLE is in an interesting spot. Could the Saints trade Carr, the #9 pick and a few more picks to move up to the #2 spot and select Sanders?
Just rambling, thanks for reading.
Jimmy Haslam: “Let’s draft that kid from Penn State cuz you know we had some good luck when we drafted Milt Plum”.
Jimmy Haslam is the biggest roadblock to the Browns search for respectability. Guy thinks he’s a high-regarded assistant coach (or more). Haslam’s Deshaun Watson debacle set the Browns back years and now he has his neck right in the middle of this year’s draft choice decision. At least, if the Titans take Ward, he can’t screw up the QB position again. Get your butt up in the press box and/or off the practice field, Haslam and let the real football people do their job without you breathing down their neck. Nothing worse than an owner who thinks he knows more about football than the hired hands.
Idk a fan trying to tell a billionaire what to do through a message board might be worse.
Blowing smoke?
Absolutely. If you a hearing a team is taking player X from sources who work for that team, you can bet they are not. My money is on Sheduer. Drafting him gives Stefanski and Berry an excuse for Haslam to let things play out for a year or two after 2025 before they get fired. Carter gets them fired after the season because they have no QB and no hope of a QB. Carter going to the HOF in 15 years doesn’t keep Stefanski and Berry employed in 2026.