Dawgs By Nature
Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders at the top of the 2025 NFL draft
The Cleveland Browns always make football interesting. Unfortunately, the 2024 Browns are much like those of the past with all the interesting being bad. Kicker Dustin Hopkins, fresh off his three-year extension this offseason, missed three field goals which seemed like they would matter with the score tied going into the fourth quarter of Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints.
Then the Saints blew Cleveland out of Lousiana with 21 straight points to drop the Browns to 2-8 on the season. Not only did Cleveland get destroyed but they also lost new starting left tackle Dawand Jones for the rest of the season.
The Browns did have a few highlights in the game but the real positive is how the loss helps their NFL draft stock. We will have the full updated NFL draft order on Monday morning as Strength of Schedule plays a role as the first tiebreaker.
As of now, Cleveland is slotted into the third spot but that could change as Week 11 finishes up.
While there is a lot that will happen in the NFL and college football between now and the 2025 NFL draft, there seems to be three very clear options for the Browns if they get the top overall pick:
Picking Sanders would come with a lot of issues given Deshaun Watson’s contract and, possibly, Deion’s involvement:
Interestingly, Hall of Famer Sanders noted that he would get involved with Hunter as well.
Hunter is expected by most to be the top overall pick coming out. An elite player who could be a star as a wide receiver or cornerback, Hunter prefers to play both sides of the ball as he is at Colorado. Many believe that the two-way star will be a better cornerback at the NFL while dabbling on the offensive side of the ball.
The problem for Cleveland is that they are not a cornerback/receiver combo away, no matter how talented Hunter is, from turning things around.
The other issue for the Browns is that the 2025 NFL draft does not have what many would consider a franchise-altering player. Sanders could become that and Hunter will certainly make any team better but none of the current class is seen as elite prospects.
Given the roster Cleveland could go into 2025 with, trading down might be their best decision. A team like the Dallas Cowboys, who could hire Deion as their coach, might be willing to swing a huge deal to move up for the younger Sanders. The Cowboys are not the only team that could be thirsting for a quarterback, or Hunter for that matter, as the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and New York Jets could be desperate as well.
As of now, the Browns are on their way toward getting one of the top picks in the upcoming...
