DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk 2025 NFL Draft Grade the Browns Draft

Pick #2 traded to Jacksonville for 1st #5, 2nd #36, a swap of 4th rounders, and a 2026 1st round draft pick. (A) To trade down 3 spots the Browns got a haul including the key to the trade a 2026 1st that can help the Browns try to acquire a franchise QB in 2026.

Pick #5 - Mason Graham DT Michigan. Really the safest pick in the draft. A two time all American, rose bowl MVP in 2023, and 2023 National Champion. Highest graded college DT according to PFF. A run stuffer specialist and penetrates opposing teams backfields and causes havoc. (A)

Pick #33 - Carson Schwesinger MLB UCLA. High motor Linebacker that went from walk on to All Big Ten linebacker in 2025. 1 Year starter. PFF highest graded pass rushing linebacker in the draft. 27.4% pass rush win rate which is 2nd highest of any defender in the draft. (B)

Pick #36 - Quinshon Judkins RB Ohio State. A big fast and violent running back. SEC Freshman running back of the year, National Champion at Ohio State. 220 pound back that runs a 4.48 40 yard dash speed. (A)

Pick #67 - Harold Fannon Jr. TE Bowling Green. Slightly under sized tight end with huge production in college. Great hands, Averages making 3+ defenders miss on tackles per game. (A)

Pick #94 - Dillon Gabriel QB Oregon. This pick was a huge reach. Picked around 70 spots higher than projections. Undersized QB at 5'11 but probably even shorter. Did not get measured and weighed at combine. Does not possess a strong arm. Experienced college QB with 5 years as starter at 3 different schools. (F)

Pick #125 - Dylon Sampson RB Tennessee. Speedy running back that led the nation in causing defenders to miss tackles. 4.42 40-yard dash speed. (A)

Pick #144 - Sheduer Sanders QB Colorado. Slightly under sized QB that is an accurate passer. With clean pockets had an 80% completion %. Not a great athlete and does not possess a strong arm but was the 2nd rated QB in this draft class and Browns got great value in the 3rd round. (B)

Overall B+ Great trade that produced an extra 2nd in 2025 and a 1st in 2026. Only pick that was a head scratcher was Dillon Gabriel in the 3rd round. There was good value at Offensive line, wide receiver, and safety available at that pick. The Browns reached and took Gabriel 2 rounds early and got terrible value for that pick on the player that is best suited to be long term backup QB. If not for that pick this draft would be a solid A.

That’s pretty sound analysis, but if Sanders is really capable of being our franchise QB, which people thought a month ago, then the draft becomes an A+ regardless of the strange Gabriel pick. I didn’t get the linebacker, but the more I read, the more I think he could be a Clay Matthews type. The first round trade was spectacular, and Graham is going to be a day one, three-down starter. Love the two running backs, but I hope we bring back Nick and not Ford. Love the tight end!

I’d like to bring back Nick too but I don’t think we’d keep him over Ford. Dont get me wrong, at 100% he is 10x the back that Ford is, but Ford is also healthy, younger and a dual threat.

This is also coming from someone who regarded Chubb as his favorite Browns player ever since Joe retired. If Nick doesn’t come back, I’ll have to find a new favorite.

Watched a PFF podcast and they made an interesting point.
Our draft seems weird because of the order we took the playhers
What if our picks had gone as follows?

Pick #5 Mason Graham
Pick #33 Shedeur Sanders
Pick #36 Carson Schwesinger
Pick #67 Quinshon Judkins
Pick #94 Harold Fannon
Pick #126 Dylan Sampson
Pick #144 Dillion Gabriel

Same players
Different order
Different feel

Ha, that is weird.

I was befuddled by the Gabriel pick, especially in the third round. When I read he doesn't have a strong arm I have no respect for the person's grade. Also they have Sanders taken in the 3rd.

TRADE - Loved the trade, got great value for the #2 pick and by adding the 1st rounder for next year it gave us the ammunition we needed to help us go get our QB or another great player next year. GRADE A

DT Graham pick - Gives us a really good DT to team up with Garrett, with the addition of Graham and Collins at DT hopefully we will be able to get some push on the opposing QBs up the middle along with Garrett and McGuire crashing in from the sides. Would have preferred the RB Jeanty here as I see him as a possible HOF RB but my next choice would have been Graham. GRADE A-

LB Schwesinger pick - This is a high motor guy he will be a tackling machine, he's quick and has great instincts also all our top LBers are Free Agents after this year. Would love it if JOK can make it back, putting him and Schwesinger together would gives us a terrific LBing Combo. GRADE A

RB Judkins pick - Very physical back which we lacked at the time of the pick and since we are going to be doing a lot of play action it helps to actually have a player who can run he ball to carry that out. Probably our biggest need after QB. GRADE A-

TE Fannin pick - Not a traditional TE, he's an H-back who be moved all around the line-up. Really good player but I would have like the WR Jaylin Noel here. GRADE B+

QB Gabriel pick - Like the player but I don't like the pick. He's a quality player but because of his size he's a bit of a project and he is more likely to be a back up at this level and there were still players available who I saw as possible NFL starters IE: S Watts from Notre Dame and OC Wilson from Florida. GRADE C-

RB Sampson pick - Another really good player, He's more of an elusive runner than Judkins, while Judkins can grind out the yards Sampson is more of a big play back who has speed. Most mocks had him going somewhere from Mid 2nd to 3rd and we got him in the middle of the 4th. Great value. Sampson and Judkins should make a great pair (Mack, Byner visions). GRADE A

QB Sanders pick - WHY?????? We determined he wasn't franchise QB when we passed him up at #2 and again at #33 and we had already added a developmental QB in Gabriel earlier, plus we used 2 picks to get this guy (the pick we used to select him and the 6th rnd pick we traded to move up to get him) when we still had other needs on the team at WR and S. GRADE a big fat F.

Other than selecting Gabriel a round or 2 early and the waste of a pick on Sanders I thought this was a really good draft but because of those 2 blunders I would give this draft a GRADE of B+

Only thing is that both Judkins and Sampson probably would have already been taken by those picks.

Outside the fact that #126 is literally where we drafted Sampson

OOPS!

I get that you may not like the Gabriel pick, but it wasn't a "F". The kid is a good player at minimum.

Same grade I always give right after a draft.

Incomplete.

I'd say it's a B draft. I didn't like the Gabriel pick. Schlesinger was meh.

I do like Fannin and the RB combo.

The first round next year has to be QB obviously

I would grade it a B also. Not enamored with the Gabriel pick either but I'll take a wait and see approach. I thought the Schlesinger pick was solid. He's a tackling machine and has a high motor just what we need at the LB position. If JOK comes back healthy it will be a good tandem IMO.

It's always interesting to see what your "rivals" think.



I don't know if I'd go A+, but I'm on board. Looks like they really focused on tough, smart, accountable while also being great athletic specimens. Then they took a calculated risk on Shedeur. If he responds to his fall the right way, he could be a steal.

It fits what they'd done that worked and the vision that they had been selling. I think we'll see a much more physical showing on the field.

Gabriel might not be the prototype, but I think he fits Stefanski. I think he does the "little" things well, that let the good things down the field happen. Manipulates the pocket, looks off the safety, sells the fake, doesn't panic. His arm and athleticism are better than Cousins'. He does have to find throwing windows in the quick game, so they don't all look perfectly placed, but he gets the job done. Can layer it over defenders or rip it to the opposite sideline down the field from the far hash. He can make the reaction plays.

1:50 mark.
3:50 mark.
8:20 mark.

there's no doubt Gabriel was a KS guy. Accurate, on time, avoids TO's, smart ... but he is small

14:20 mark.

We did well in this draft period. I agree with Todd Mcshay's take. I give us an A and that includes the #1 for next year!!

I liked the entire draft overall with the exception of the Sanders pick. But hey, if you have to take a huge risk and end up with a failed pick that's the place to do it. Players drafted that late rarely make in in the NFL anyway.

B+

I was looking for this post! I think you've correctly posted it every year since the original board came into existence.

I have always agreed with him that you never "know" how a draft will grade out until three seasons after these kids have been drafted. But a thread like this is simply to gauge how you feel about it at the moment before everything plays out.

Exactly. I originally had a B grade, but I didn't figure in the Xtra #1 for next year. That should be taken into consideration. You really can't judge a draft for 2-3 years but it's interesting to see initial reactions to it.

This year was interesting. On Thursday at noon, If you listed the players we picked without where we picked them, and said we gave up no players and added a 1st next year and an additional 2nd pick this draft, but we had to flip 4th round picks and give up a 6th rounder, I am guessing most would like the draft.

I don't see how you would have rated it a solid A with what we "knew" before the draft.

After seeing where we picked each and the obvious fall of Sanders it may be lower. Finding out every NFL passed on his at least 2 times, most 3-4 should lower the opinion of SS.

Who knows, but I am cool. Here's hoping Jacksonville has a bad record.

One interesting narrative leading up the draft was that the NYG's Daboll and Schoen needed to save their jobs in this draft. The way the Browns drafted you don't get the feeling that either Stefanski or Berry felt they needed to stretch for this year.

I was looking forward to buying a Hunter Colorado jersey... think I'll wait before before a Sanders Colorado jersey. Maybe I'll get a Delaware jersey until then.

Go Blue Hens?

Showing up to a tailgate in a Flacco Fightin' Blue Hen jersey might score some free drinks.

Agree 100 %

It's a lot simpler than the 1-10

It's a way to express a feeling other than saying it sucked or it was great.

Give it a grade, throw in a thought

Hope the draft picks pan out.

I personally don't give a grade due to my school report cards

I could never convince my parents that

D's were dynamite

F's were fantastic

C's were cool

B's were bad

and

A's were awful

Idk, is it just me ?

Like an Ensure or Boost ?

Next years draft

Would like to see a

QB

WR

OL's

S

Prune juice?

one thing that stood out to me about the QB's

Shedeur Sanders' career completion percentage in 2024 was 74.0%
Dillon Gabriel's completion percentage in 2024 was complete 72.9%

That will raise some eyebrows with the over-40-hotties. 👊

A solid C plus.
The only team in the modern draft era to draft 2 QBs and 2 RBs
Where's the logic ??
Oh wait this is the same front office that gave up 3 draft picks
For DeShawn Watson and a contract nothing short of stupid
No WR drafted that can threaten secondaries
No LT to protect your QB.
LB was a serious need. Judkins could be a steal .the RB room
Has lack physicality for years .

Endless hot takes fly,
Victory dances online-
Glory in the keys.

I don’t think we can give a grade until we see what becomes of the jags 2026 first

We could cut everyone we drafted in training camp but if the jags pick turns out to be #1 overall and arch manning comes out and we take him 1st overall with that pick then this is an A+ draft based off the trade alone

One other thing. Sanders played in the pac-12 and had Travis Hunter.

Gabriel played in the Big10 and had Troy Franklin (fourth round pick)

A few years back, there was a Bengals fan who had tried to masquerade as a Browns fan to "trash us from within." Impact-something. I remember he had that same line-by-line posting style too. I'm not saying it's the same guy, but I'm saying I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

It's not. StripperDude has been around forever. I imagine him as the dude sitting at the bar drinking Blatz in the '70s, bitching about Mike Phipps so much everyone else just sits in silence and leaves at halftime.

I remember a few years back, RocketOptimist would get bored with droning conversations and just start replying in haikus. That's who I was channeling.

I’ll make a prediction. Mason Graham will remind us Browns fans of Jerry Sheri.

Jerry Sherk.

remind us OLD Browns fans of Jerry Sherk - #72.

Other than horrible injuries, I hope you are accurate. That would be awesome. Now, can we find someone who plays like Walter Johnson to pair with him?

One of my heroes growing up! Part of that "When All the World Was Browns Town"! Amazing stuff in it. Recommended by Bard. Get in touch with some roots.

And Walter Johnson was also a professional wrestler.

Regarding the draft, I was a fan of all the picks, except drafting two camp arms (hard to call Sanders a camp arm with his wet noodle).

Lol! I kinda like the Gabriel pick, don’t know why we bothered with SS. Gabriel throws a nice ball. That was a good clip bull posted in the other thread, the one with Kurt Warner.

Graham, the LB, TE and the two RBs appear to be solid picks. I’m really sold on Graham now that I’ve done some research on him.

I will say incomplete as well.

My biggest challenge with this draft is that I would have anticipated an OT to be drafted.

Conklin is frail, and has not seen the field a lot. Jones has missed parts of both seasons with injury.

Wills is a Free Agent and unlikely to return, and I recall a lot of sacks last year no matter who played QB.

I really, really wanted to hear Aireontae Ersery's name called with one of the picks in the 2nd. I'll go ahead and predict some pro bowls in his future right now.

Hard to complain though, I like the other two picks as well.


What is the plan? I'm really concerned.

We have a plan?? I’d love to know what it is.

Hopefully one of our drafted QBs shows promise, I think Joe gives us a puncher’s chance, I can see him and Jeudy, Fannin and NJoku lighting up the lakefront, especially with the backs we drafted.

I hope we get one more good year out of our aging OL.

Amen to that. We need to cross our fingers for better than average health this year. "A guy named Blake" success stories aren't a plan.

And those stories are fewer and further between without Callahan on the staff.

I’d hope we bring Geron Christianson back at least. I know he’s a backup but IIRC the line did okay with him protecting Flacco’s blindside.

Yep except for the occasional Sunday when I post it twice.

If he turns out to be half the player and half the man Jerry is I'm going to be thrilled.

I like the draft and picks - yes, give it 3 years before we really know. But as someone said - the immediate feeling is positive.

Love the extra pick.
Love the two inside defensive players. Other than JOK who is different - I have really been down on our LB play for years. Those two make me very happy.
Gabriel has a ton of things I like and only his height that is the big obstacle.
The two RB's are also complementary and nice additions that will probably see a lot of reps as rookies.

I wasn't down on the Sanders pick - I thought maybe it was some value. But I think I am feeling less postive about that - would have prefered a flier on OL and a special teamer or even two OL picks. But that's not much to complain about. A grade? B+ without the extra pick next year. A+ with the extra pick.

It feels to me like people keep forgetting the guys we brought in in free agency.

Cornelius Lucas - LT
Javion Cohen - LG
Wypler - C
Zinter - RG
Jenkins - RT

I think we've got the backups covered pretty well already. I don't think any of the rookies on the OL outside of the first round were going to be ready to contribute this year. I think the guys we did draft will all contribute this season (potentially in major ways.) Hopefully it also means they're comfortable with the young guys on the OL's progress and think the new coach/scheme will bring the best out of them.

Were we going to carry more than 10 OL? I didn't really see guys who were going to beat those guys out. Some interesting developmental guys were around, but I want to see what the new guy can do with what we have. I think it's going to look a lot different than last year. I think his philosophy fits the young guards better and think the offense is headed back in a better direction that fits the OL guys we've got.

One of these QBs hits and we can theoretically go LT and WR in the first round next draft with guys talented enough to be high end starters out of the box.

This is pure speculation on my part, but I suspect your idea may have been the plan, and then Jimmah got antsy.

Speaking of Zinter - not to derail the thread - but how did everyone think he looked when he got some playing time last year?

He struggled but he was also coming off a tough injury end of his last season at Michigan. I think he will look quite a bit better this season with a whole year of off season work outs. Last year due to the injury he did not get a whole off season of work.

This is about both Shedeur and Dillon, so I figured I would just put it in this thread.

This is Joe Thomas and his take on drafting both QBs:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...761cef7a6f4dc2ad304f6739d01fd2&ei=70

I really don't know what to make of last year's OL struggles. Even the experienced vets looked perplexed at times.

Here's hoping the new coaches work out a lot better than the last group. Bloomgren did coincide with Callahan on the Jets, so hopefully he's talked to Bill about what worked well.

That's one thing that is going to be interesting to watch. All new OL coaching staff. I like what I've heard, but now let's see it.

Looking at the RBs we drafted. I expect a lot more smashmouth which I think fits Zinter better than drop back passing from shotgun. Just a more be the aggressor mentality should go a long way, I feel.

I thought a lot of it was scheme. We moved away from a scheme the Oline was comfy with to something that would hopefully make Watson better.

I think this was a solid draft on paper and give it an A. The Shedeur pick was a flyer. Gabriel plays a lot like Baker. And if we had taken baker in the third he’d still be on the roster. All the other picks are potential starters with decent to great tape. I wasn’t sold on Hunter being GREAT in the nfl. And I’m happy as hell we gave Myles another disrupter to play beside. I’m super happy we got a second this year and a first next. I think Berry went into this draft trying to put us in a better situation to handle the DW debacle and he did just that. If both QBs stink it up, we’ll put them in the backup roles and give them a year or two to develop. If one pans out well enough to start, we’ll get to use that first next year on another bluechip player. Win-win if you ask me. Berry and Ski did a good job drafting, now it’s up to the players to produce.

Ski doesn't draft players.

It's a Haiku. They're supposed to look like that.

That was my impression as well. It was a scheme thing, we got away from the Callahan zone blocking thing for some reason to accommodate Watson. Hopefully we figure it out because we couldn’t run it last year and if we have any prayer at all this year we’re going to need a respectable ground game.