Schefter Unholsters Bold Browns Draft Take

Subsequently, as the football world descended upon Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, Adam Schefter revealed the lone Browns draft prediction that he felt confident in.

“The thing that I feel most comfortable and confident about in this upcoming draft is the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 will wind up taking a quarterback,” Schefter said. "Because they have to. Because logic dictates that. Because common sense dictates that."

"... If the Titans decide that they're not going to go quarterback and they're going to go with a generational player like Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter, that leaves the Cleveland Browns with the option of whichever quarterback they deem to be the best quarterback in this upcoming draft."

Having their pick of the litter is important for Cleveland. With at least one of Carter and Hunter on the board, the front office isn’t likely to hitch itself to a passer it isn’t in love with. Hunter’s ball skills earned him heaps of praise from general manager Andrew Berry and Carter is a high-upside pass rusher who could join Myles Garrett before, potentially, replacing him. Watson’s contract gives the Browns an excuse to wait another year, even if it means finding a different veteran to start under center in 2025.

Neither passer offers the same pedigree that fans saw atop the 2024 class, but both have made strong arguments to be the first one taken in April. Sanders’ processing is strong, he’s incredibly accurate, and he’s used to making plays in adverse circumstances. Ward is even better out of structure and has physical tools that catch the eye, helping smooth over inconsistencies in the pocket.

Ultimately, it’s hard for Cleveland to do wrong, at least from a process perspective. The Browns can’t guarantee their next quarterback finding success, but they will have the goodwill of a fanbase more than ready to move on from the current era of Cleveland football.