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Cleveland Browns make Myles Garrett’s job much easier in latest 2025 NFL mock draft
Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Browns should be playing for draft positioning at this point in the season, even if they can’t actually say that. At 3-12 on the year, the Browns are locked into a top-five pick if they do not win another game.

This year did not go as Cleveland hoped by any means. The offense failed in a big way and there is a giant hole at quarterback on the team.

However, the Browns likely won’t be in a position to take the top quarterback in the draft. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders would make sense, but he may be going No. 1 overall. If that is the case, the Browns need to take the best player available.

Cleveland did just that in the most recent 3-round mock draft from A to Z Sports and landed a difference-maker for the defense.

The Cleveland Browns select Penn State edge Abdul Carter No. 5 overall

“The Browns might be interested in moving up for a quarterback, but I'm not convinced they'll do so in this year's class. Their quarterback room keeps losing them games along the way and it's landed them a top-five pick, an unfortunately familiar spot for the team.” - AJ Schulte

Cleveland moved on from Za’Darius Smith this season once the playoffs felt out of reach. They have given Isaiah McGuire an extended look with Alex Wright on the injured reserve. McGuire has been a good player and is a very good run defender already. He has two sacks this season and firmly looks like a piece the Browns will continue to develop around.

However, Carter is the best pass rusher in the draft and would be a big addition opposite Garrett. Carter has 11 sacks this season and has been fully unleashed by the Nittany Lions. Carter has 22 sacks for his career and is listed at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds.

Carter will need to improve his work in the run game, but I believe that can happen because he does not have a ton of experience rushing the passer off the edge. A former off-ball linebacker who is really coming into his own and is an exciting player.

Pairing another elite athlete with Garrett sounds scary. A player like Carter is one the Browns should look into bringing in if they have the opportunity to. 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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