What Browns should do in NFL Draft if they deal Myles Garrett

On Monday, however, a Browns source told CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones the team isn't "entertaining offers for him." 

If Cleveland trades Garrett, however, 10 NFL personnel executives told The Athletic it could recoup a first-round pick and a player or mid-round pick. If a deal is made for Garrett — who has 102.5 sacks in eight seasons for the Browns — the next step for Cleveland could be replacing him early during the NFL Draft, scheduled April 24-26 in Green Bay.

Here are potential options for the Browns: 

What Browns should do with second overall pick

Assuming Cleveland gets at least one first-round pick in return for Garrett, the Browns should focus on replacing him with Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter with the second overall pick rather than drafting a QB, which may be Cleveland's primary need.

Cleveland needs a QB because Deshaun Watson is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and his status for the 2025 season is uncertain, per ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi. Plus, Watson has underwhelmed for the Browns in his three seasons with them (19 starts, 61.2 completion percentage).

However, the 2025 QB draft class is underwhelming, with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward regarded as the top players at the position. 

"True ball placement isn't consistent," Pro Football Focus wrote about Ward. About Sanders, PFF wrote, "Arm strength is average for NFL standards."

Carter, the No. 1 edge-rusher in the class, per PFF, had 10 sacks and 33 solo tackles in 2024. He's undersized for the position (6-foot-3 and 250 pounds) but was a game-wrecker in college. 

NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah recently touted Carter as the best player in the draft.

What Browns could do with another first-round pick 

In a hypothetical scenario in which Cleveland has an extra 2025 first-round pick in a trade for Garrett, Cleveland should be open to drafting the best player available. 

Of the other teams selecting in the top 10 in the draft, the Titans (No. 1), Giants (No. 3), Raiders (No. 6), Jets (No. 7) and Saints (No. 9) need a QB. Sanders and Ward presumably will go in the top 10.

With an extra first-round pick, Cleveland could either trade up the board or stay pat and select former Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart, who ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently said could sneak into the first round.