2025 NFL Mock Draft: Browns make draft-day trade for QB; team takes a chance on Jalen Milroe in top 10

It sounds like the Browns are going to operate as if Deshaun Watson is just a dead-cap hit on the books in 2025, even if he's technically still on the roster. 

After suffering a setback in the rehab of his Achilles injury, he reportedly could miss all of next season as a member of the Browns. And given how abysmally he played in Cleveland, I don't think any Browns fans would miss him being on the field for the team holding the No. 2 overall pick. 

So, yeah -- the Browns absolutely need a new quarterback in the worst way. They've now seen Baker Mayfield go on to lead the Buccaneers to consecutive NFC South titles, and the only other first-round quarterback Cleveland's picked over the past decade-plus was Johnny Manziel in 2014. 

In this mock draft, the Browns do whatever necessary to secure the quarterback they want so that they can turn to the next chapter at the position.

To honor the start of draft season for 18 teams, I've included a trade in this mock for the first time of this cycle. Just one. And it's at the top of the draft. 

The draft order below was determined using the current 2025 NFL Draft order. For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Mock Trade from Tennessee Titans Round 1 - Pick 1 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 4134 RUYDS -50 INTS 10 TDS 41 The Browns make no mistake about it -- they're done with Deshaun Watson, even though he'll be on the roster for probably the next two seasons. Sanders is picked to be the starting quarterback with his reasonably polished game.

Mock Trade from Cleveland Browns Round 1 - Pick 2 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 323 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 2nd Maybe Brian Callahan and the new general manager take a swing at a veteran quarterback to serve as a bridge to a passer picked in one of the coming drafts. In the meantime, they fortify the right side of the offensive line with this selection. They acquire Cleveland's 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 second-round selection in this slide back.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 4313 RUYDS 204 INTS 7 TDS 43 The Giants call this pick in immediately. Ward can create outside of structure, and he got more efficient as a passer in each of his collegiate seasons.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Travis Hunter ATH Colorado • Jr • 6'1" / 185 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 96 REYDS 1258 YDS/REC 13.1 TDS 16 Hunter to the Patriots would be tremendous for everyone involved. New England gets a ridiculous two-way player, and Hunter can be featured prominently right away.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars have to get more talent into the secondary. Johnson checks the boxes for a lockdown No. 1 cornerback.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Jalen Milroe QB Alabama • Jr • 6'2" / 225 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 32nd POSITION RNK 3rd PAYDS 2844 RUYDS 726 INTS 11 TDS 36 Milroe is more project-y than the other top passers in this class, yet his upside is noticeably higher because of his athleticism and improving play from within the pocket.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st Graham is too talented for the Jets to pass on here, and he'd help New York get back to the elite-level defense it had for a long stretch before the 2024 season.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st REC 84 REYDS 1319 YDS/REC 15.7 TDS 8 McMillan would give Bryce Young a serious rebounder on the perimeter, which is exactly what he needs.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st Banks can be a lockdown tackle in the NFL or begin his career at guard before eventually kicking outside.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 2nd Carter would be a boon for the Bears at No. 10 overall given his burst, flexibility, length and ascending power.

Round 1 - Pick 11 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st Pearce looks like a top-15 pick, and the 49ers make him one here. He's long, explosive, deceptively powerful and put together two magnificent seasons in the SEC. He's the running mate Nick Bosa needs.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 2601 YDS/ATT 7 REYDS 138 TDS 30 If Jeanty is available when Jerry Jones goes on the clock, I firmly believe he will be the pick for the Cowboys.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st Starks would give the Dolphins another premier playmaker at the safety spot who will contribute on three downs in a big way.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 61 REYDS 676 YDS/REC 11.1 TDS 8 Burden is a YAC monster who'd give Anthony Richardson another reliable underneath weapon beyond Josh Downs.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 22nd POSITION RNK 6th Walker is a do-everything linebacker/edge hybrid who'd be a welcomed addition to Atlanta's relatively weak second level.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 5th Umanmielen has three years of quality productivity in the SEC under his belt and could provide the Cardinals with immediate outside pass-rushing help.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Derrick Harmon DL Oregon • Jr • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 34th POSITION RNK 6th Harmon is a wide but athletic upfield rusher who was arguably the most dynamic pass-rushing defensive tackle in 2024.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Tyler Booker IOL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 325 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 1st Booker is an NFL-ready guard who'd bolster the Seahawks' run-game woes from 2024.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Cameron Williams OT Texas • Jr • 6'5" / 335 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 59th POSITION RNK 7th The Texans need to infuse youthful offensive line help to the roster, and Williams can be plugged into right tackle or start at guard to begin his career.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Jahdae Barron CB Texas • Sr • 5'11" / 200 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 60th POSITION RNK 6th Barron has the plus man-coverage skills Vance Joseph will love across from Patrick Surtain II.

Round 1 - Pick 21 LT Overton DL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 283 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 44th POSITION RNK 9th Overton was the breakout star on Alabama's defense this season and looks like a towering specimen on film with plenty of power.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Wyatt Milum OT West Virginia • Sr • 6'6" / 317 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 58th POSITION RNK 6th The Steelers go to West Virginia again to add more offensive line talent to a unit that desperately needs it.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Tyler Warren TE Penn State • Sr • 6'6" / 261 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 36th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 98 REYDS 1158 YDS/REC 11.8 TDS 12 Even with Tyler Higbee back, the Rams look to the future with the uber-talented receiving-based tight end.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 190 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 2nd Morrison got injured reasonably early in 2024 but has too much natural coverage talent to get past the cornerback-needy Packers.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 70 REYDS 896 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 10 Egbuka would provide another speedy downfield weapon for Justin Herbert in a revamped Chargers receiver room.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 4th The Commanders have a glaring need on the edge, and Scourton has an NFL frame with high-caliber productivity on his resume.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota • Sr • 6'6" / 330 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 38th POSITION RNK 5th Ersery can be the replacement for Ronnie Stanley if he's not re-signed after the season. The former Minnesota star has looked like a first-round pick for years now given his size and movement skills.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Kenneth Grant DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 339 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 3rd The Vikings need to get stronger inside with a defensive tackle who can generate pass rush and hold up against the run. That's precisely what they'd get with Grant.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Andrew Mukuba CB Texas • Sr • 6'0" / 190 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 151st POSITION RNK 4th Mukuba moves like a safety who'll fly up boards with a tremendous combine, and the Bills look to the future at the safety position. The Clemson-turned-Texas star has 23 pass breakups in his four-year collegiate career and now six picks entering the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 3rd The Eagles are glad to add yet another Georgia defensive lineman to the defense in Williams, who's a freaky specimen yet has a raw skill set.

Round 1 - Pick 31 T.J. Sanders DL South Carolina • Jr • 6'4" / 290 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 39th POSITION RNK 7th Sanders was a consistent star on South Carolina's stellar defensive line in 2024. He plays with awesome power and can win in passing situations.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Shavon Revel Jr. CB East Carolina • Sr • 6'3" / 193 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 3rd The Lions roll the dice on the small-school standout who torn a knee ligament early in the 2024 season. When healthy, he was a ball magnet and has premier size and length.