2025 NFL Draft: Adam Schefter gives definitive update on Browns' decision at No. 2 overall

The Cleveland Browns could be in for another complicated quarterback situation in 2025.

ESPN insider Adam Schefter revealed he expects the Browns — a once-proud NFL franchise long mired in QB troubles — will be targeting a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, so long as they don’t trade up to No. 1.

“The one thing I feel pretty certain about here is that at No. 2, the Cleveland Browns will ultimately land on a quarterback. They have to,” Schefter said on Tuesday’s SportsCenter Special for Mel Kiper’s NFL Mock Draft 2.0 reveal on ESPN2. “Because, essentially, they’ve already committed all kinds of money to Deshaun Watson, who has his season in jeopardy this year after retearing his Achilles. There is a lot of money tied up into the position. You’re in a division where the other quarterbacks right now are Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow – we’ll see what happens in Pittsburgh – but you need a quarterback to keep up.”

Deshaun Watson underwent surgery on Jan. 9 to repair his re-ruptured right Achilles tendon and could miss the entire 2025 season. Watson initially suffered an Achilles tear in an Oct. 20, 2024 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and went through his first surgery on Oct. 25. But during an exit physical in early January, Watson complained about discomfort after rolling his ankle while recovering in Miami. An MRI revealed he’d re-ruptured his Achilles.

Given the uncertainty with Watson, Schefter is confident the Browns will have their eyes squarely focused on a quarterback at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft.

“The one thing that I feel most confident in early in this draft is the Cleveland Browns ultimately will select a quarterback,” Schefter continued. “I don’t know which one yet, but I do feel comfortable in saying quarterback will be the pick at No. 2, if the Browns don’t trade up to No. 1.”

Fellow ESPN expert Matt Miller then suggested Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders would be a better “fit” in the Browns offense under head coach Kevin Stefanski‘s system, but held firm that Miami‘s Cam Ward would be the most dynamic option if Cleveland was willing to shake things up offensively.

“I think Shedeur, stylistically, is a better fit than Cam Ward,” Miller said. “… (But) if you want someone to step in (immediately) and be dynamic, I do think that is Cam Ward. Now we’ll see if Stefanski would be willing to change his offense, he did it for Deshaun Watson, that has had very, very mixed results.

“Again, I think scheme, I see Shedeur Sanders. But if you want a dynamic playmaker, someone that can help revitalize this great franchise, then Cam Ward certainly has the arm talent, he has the mobility and he’s a player that’s elevated programs at Incarnate Word, Washington State and then finally this last year at Miami. Every offense he played on got so much better as soon as he took over that point guard position.”