American Football

Browns 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Way too early but fun to have a 1st Round pick again

April 28, 2024

Auburn v Texas A&M — Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images

The 2025 NFL draft is 362 days away (probably), but it is time for next year’s Browns mock draft

The Cleveland Browns, and their fanbase, head into 2024 with expectations of a team that is ready to compete for the AFC North title and more. With all of the resources, including the Deshaun Watson trade, poured into the roster, the Browns must make the playoffs, at a minimum, to make it all worth it.

Gone are the days when the next NFL draft was going to save the team. Back are the days when Cleveland fans get to think about what it is like to have a first-round pick.

Generally speaking, NFL mock drafts are not for predicting what will happen. Instead, it is a chance to start to get to know players’ names, what could be and just to have a bit of excitement for the upcoming draft. 2025 mock drafts the day after the 2024 one ended is even more of a spitball toward the future.

Sports are supposed to be fun and a lot of “way too early” mock drafts get a lot of readers so… time for our Browns 2025 mock draft. We again used Pro Football Network’s simulator for this exercise. The reality is some of these players won’t come out, some will not have good college seasons and others will be drafted much higher.

Again, sports are supposed to be fun so enjoy Cleveland having a first-rounder, and all of their Day 2 picks, in this mock draft:

First Round

WR Evan Stewart, Oregon

Stewart is a 6-foot-tall speedster who transferred out of Texas A&M this year to head up to play for the Ducks. Last year, in an offense that had four quarterbacks who attempted at least 35 passes, Stewart had 514 yards on just 38 receptions with four touchdowns. Odds are those numbers jump significantly this year and give the Browns a threat all over the field.

A twitchy prospect, Stewart has excelled as a sprinter and long jumper as well at his young age.

Second Round

DE Patrick Payton, Florida State

It is easy to imagine the 6’5” Payton going much higher in the actual draft but he was too good to pass up here. With 12 sacks in his first two years in college, Payton is set to explode into the national consciousness in 2024.

Third Round

TE Bryson Nesbit, UNC

The 6’5” Nesbit helps answer a position that the Browns need a second guy at behind David Njoku. 41 catches for 585 yards and five touchdowns was a solid junior year for the Tar Heel.

Fourth Round

RB Raheim Sanders, South Carolina

A transfer from Arkansas, Sanders had a great season in 2022 but tore his labrum last season before transferring to join the Gamecocks. Running backs have fallen lower in the draft than they used to but if Sanders can replicate his 1,400 yards, 10 touchdowns and 28 reception season from two years ago, he’s more likely to go late in the 2nd or early in the 3rd.

Sixth Round

QB Drew Allar, Penn State

Allar has a chance to explode up draft boards or could be just another guy when 2025 rolls around. Cleveland looked at a number of quarterbacks in the 2024 draft and only has Jameis Winston under contract for one year.

DT Ty Hamilton, The Ohio State

Michael Hall gets his linemate to join him just up 71. Hamilton returning to college was somewhat surprising and his falling here is perhaps even more surprising. Like we said, this is about fun and we didn’t program the simulator.

S Malik Dixon-Williams, UConn

Not even going to pretend to know much about MDW but adding a safety makes sense when we look at the Browns depth chart. Dixon-Williams is 6-foot-tall and has played a ton of games including starts as a freshman at UConn.

Seventh Round

CB Gentry Williams, Oklahoma

Unless an extension gets done, Greg Newsome and Martin Emerson Jr. will head into the 2025 season on the last year of their deals. Plus Berry really likes to add a cornerback every draft.