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Cleveland Browns Projected to Land Surprising New Quarterback

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Evan Massey | Last updated Mar 31, 2025 9:00 AM ET

The Cleveland Browns still need a starting quarterback. At this point in time, Kenny Pickett is the projected starter with Deshaun Watson being the only other signal caller on the roster.

Not only do the Browns need a starting quarterback, they also need a long-term starter. Cleveland could find that player in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.

Many connections have been made between the Browns and Shedeur Sanders. While it's an intriguing idea, the team does not seem sold on bringing Sanders onboard. Should they choose to pass on him, who else could they target?

One surprising option has been projected to land in Cleveland.

ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller has made a new prediction at quarterback for the Browns. He thinks that Louisville's Tyler Shough will head to Cleveland with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round of the draft.

"The Browns passed on Shedeur Sanders in Round 1 but would get their quarterback here," Miller wrote. "Shough was a member of the 2018 recruiting class and has played at three schools, starting as Justin Herbert's backup at Oregon, moving to Texas Tech and thriving at Louisville this past season. Shough has a live arm, easy mobility and plenty of experience. Cleveland needs someone to play immediately, which he can do as the Browns try to find the franchise quarterback that has evaded them since the franchise rebooted in 1999."

Shough is coming off of a strong season at Louisville in 2024. He completed 62.7% of his pass attempts for 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Kyle Crabbs of The 33rd Team has offered an interesting NFL comparison for Shough. He believes Josh McCown is a comparable player.

Not only did Crabbs offer a comparison for Shough, he also broke down what kind of offense the quarterback would fit best in.

"He’d be a good fit for an under center, play-action scheme that can play off of the dropback passing game with rollouts and bootlegs while taking advantage of his arm fluidity and athleticism," he wrote.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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