Dawgs By Nature
A week removed from the NFL draft, reviewing all the Browns big decisions, draft class
The 2025 NFL Draft officially wrapped up last weekend. Of course, it’s not a Cleveland Browns draft if there are many elements surrounding it. Fans of the team went through the entire draft behavior cycle. Stunned, followed by happiness, with a mixture of anger and confusion. Despair and frustration then followed up with excitement.
It’s like a roller coaster but at the end you felt like you should have gotten off earlier than expected.
A lot to discuss.
I was at Wingstop getting my dinner for the evening when I saw the notification that the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to a trade. I fell to my knees at that Wingstop, and I left immediately (to the person who got my 8 pc wing combo, hope you enjoyed it). It was a shocker to everyone, but when you look at the trade Cleveland was offered from the Jacksonville Jaguars, I see why the Browns made the move.
Is wide receiver Travis Hunter a one-of-a-kind prospect? Yes. Could Cleveland’s offense benefit from someone with his skillset? Absolutely. But in terms of value, Cleveland got a lot of it.
As far as who they took 5th overall, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is the best defensive tackle in this class and was a highly touted prospect. He’s not generational like Hunter or Abdul Carter, but he’s really talented. Cleveland’s interior defensive line was a weakness and adding Graham improves the defensive line in a big way.
Regardless of his arm length and him being undersized, Graham will start immediately, not to mention he fits the scheme that the Browns run defensively. Defensive end Myles Garrett had input on the pick and if Garrett sees something in him, then Cleveland sees something as well.
Optimistic but confusing. Cleveland started off day 2 with a lot of people asking how the team will start, considering how they traded out of a top 2 pick. So what did the team do?
Drafted a linebacker in Carson Schwesinger, followed by drafting a running back in Quinshon Judkins. Schwesinger and Judkins can be impact players and while a wide receiver or lineman would have been fine, Cleveland selected talented players. Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr was a great pick, and the duo of him and David Njoku will be interesting to watch.
Then came pick 94.
The Browns decided to take Oregon QB Dillion Gabriel, which was interesting to say the least. The pick was a reach, let’s be honest with ourselves. Cleveland could’ve gone in other directions and gone with positional value, but choosing Gabriel that high wasn’t necessary.
As a prospect, Gabriel doesn’t have any...
