What will the Cleveland Browns do with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?
That is going to dictate how the quarterbacks are selected in the first round. More specifically, will Cleveland take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 2?
Cleveland has drafted five quarterbacks in the first round since 1999 – a list that includes Tim Couch (1999), Brady Quinn (2007), Brandon Weeden (2012), Johnny Manziel (2014) and Baker Mayfield (2018). It’s varying levels of disappointment – especially in the present tense with Mayfield thriving in Tampa Bay. With Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett on board, however, perhaps Cleveland is willing to wait at quarterback now. Where will Sanders land?
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We have 13 quarterbacks in our QB-only mock draft, starting with Miami quarterback Cam Ward. He is one of three projected first-round picks. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Draft is our other projected first-round pick – and we think he will go higher than expected.
We have three projected Day 2 picks, including Ohio State’s Will Howard, and seven Day 3 picks. There were 11 quarterbacks selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here is a look at our projected landing spots for those 13 quarterbacks.
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QB Mock Draft 2025
First round
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, Miami, Fla. (No. 1 overall)
Ward (6-2, 219) likely will leave little drama here. Ward passed for 4,313 yards, 39 TDs and seven INTs in one season with the Hurricanes – which capped a career that also included stops at Incarnate Word and Washington State. He has great pocket presence and he excelled in the vertical passing game. According to Pro Football Focus, Ward had a 45.2% completion percentage with 14 TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more. He has the makeup of a franchise quarterback, and the Titans cannot pass that up.
- N.Y. Giants: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (No. 3)
Sanders (6-1, 212) lands with the Giants in our scenario. That means Cleveland takes Travis Hunter at No. 2, and New York gets a long-term answer at quarterback who can learn from veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in the short term. Sanders had 7,364 passing yards, 64 TDs and 13 interceptions the last two seasons at Colorado. He maintained a 71.4% completion percentage despite being under constant duress, and he should be able to handle the pressure of playing in New York. We don’t believe Deion Sanders would interfere with this landing spot – even if it’s to one of the Cowboys’ NFC East rivals. If Sanders doesn’t go in the top three, then he could slip out of the top 10.
- New Orleans Saints: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (No. 9)
Dart (6-2, 223) will go in the first round – but can he go in the top 10? He passed for 4,279 yards, 29 TDs and six interceptions at Ole Miss last season. He’s a playmaker who had 17 TDs on passes of 20 yards or more – the most in the FBS. He’s a good scrambler who had 1,541 rushing yards in his career, and he improved his accuracy with each college season. The Saints have Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler on the roster, so this would be a shakeup on the depth chart. New Orleans has drafted a quarterback in the first round one time in franchise history, and that was Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning in 1971.
Third round
- Cleveland Browns: Tyler Shough, Louisville (No. 67)
How would this pick go over in Cleveland? Shough (6-5, 219) is a late riser, and this is likely the right spot for him as opposed to a meteoric rise to the first round. Shough played seven seasons in college through stints at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville. He battled injuries, but he clicked with Jeff Brohm at Louisville last season. Shough had 3,195 yards, 23 TDs and six interceptions. The Browns’ quarterback situation is a terminal mess with the uncertainty around Deshaun Watson, but Shough is a QB who can learn from Flacco. If Cleveland does not take Sanders and Shough falls to Day 2, the value here is reasonable – but we could also see the Browns taking a quarterback in the second round at No. 33. Anything is possible with Cleveland.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Will Howard, Ohio State (No. 68)
Howard (6-4, 236) increased his stock with a legendary playoff run for the Buckeyes. Howard passed for 4,010 yards, 35 TDs and 10 interceptions. He had 1,150 yards, eight TDs and two interceptions in the four-game playoff run. He has NFL size, and he averaged eight rushing TDs between Kansas State and Ohio State the last two seasons. On passes of 20 yards or more, Howard was outstanding in the intermediate passing game with 13 TDs and two interceptions, and he handled the pressure of playing at a national championship contender. He’s been linked to the Raiders from the jump – which feels a little too easy with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. We could see Howard landing with either the Browns or the Steelers in this round.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Quinn Ewers, Texas (No. 83)
Ewers (6-2, 214) is the value pick for the Steelers if the other options don’t pan out. Dart is a popular pick for Pittsburgh in the first round, but the memories of Kenny Pickett in 2022 might be too fresh. The Steelers also are in the mix for Aaron Rodgers. Ewers fits the Pittsburgh pedigree. He passed for 68 TDs and 24 interceptions as a three-year starter, and he led the Longhorns to a CFP semifinal run. Ewers needs to become a better down-field passer – he was 38.2% on passes of 20 yards or more last season – but arm strength is not an issue. Pittsburgh also could go with Howard in this round if he falls. Ewers did battle injuries last season. Would he fit as a long-term option in Pittsburgh?
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Fourth round
- New York Jets: Kyle McCord, Syracuse (No. 110)
McCord (6-3, 218) is our favorite Day 3 quarterback. He set an ACC record with 4,779 passing yards last season, and that came with 34 TDs and 12 interceptions. He did have a five-interception meltdown against Pitt, but that was the major hiccup in an otherwise outstanding season. McCord impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine with his accuracy. He was 21-4 as a starter between Ohio State and Syracuse. McCord could fit in with the Jets as a backup option behind Justin Fields, who shares that connection with the Buckeyes. We are not sure McCord will push up to Day 2, but we like the fit here.
- Los Angeles Rams: Jalen Milroe, Alabama (No. 127)
Former NFL general manager Mike Mayock sees the Rams as the best fit for Milroe (6-2, 217), and we can buy that. Matthew Stafford did revise his contract for 2025, and while the Rams might try to plan for the future; taking a quarterback in the first round could send a mixed message for 2025 (see: Atlanta, 2024). Milroe flashed at times for the Crimson Tide the last two seasons – especially in the running game with 20 TDs – but he struggled with turnovers in Alabama’s four losses. Milroe did win the Campbell Trophy – also known as the “Academic Heisman” – which suggests the intangibles are there. We could see Sean McVay making this value pick here.
- Miami Dolphins: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (No. 135)
Gabriel (5-11, 205) – who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting last season – is the smallest quarterback that will be drafted, but how much will size be an issue? Gabriel was an efficient and consistent playmaker the last two seasons with Oklahoma and Oregon, and he had an almost-identical passing line that averaged 3,759 passing yards, 30 TDs and six interceptions. Gabriel excels in the short passing game, and his mobility – which included 19 rushing TDs the last two seasons – is a plus. Gabriel would be an intriguing backup option for the Dolphins with Mike McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith in Miami.
Fifth round
- San Francisco 49ers: Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (No. 147)
Leonard (6-4, 216) is a dual-threat quarterback who piled up 906 rushing yards and 17 TDs with the Irish last season. How effective of a passer can he be? Leonard struggled in the first half of the season, but he settled in with a 68.2% completion percentage in Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game. He was a hot-and-cold passer otherwise, and he will need to develop more consistency to stick as a backup. Leonard could fight for third QB duties with Tanner Mordecai with the 49ers. Working with Klay Kubiak in San Francisco would help Leonard improve those skills.
Sixth round
- Buffalo Bills: Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (No. 177)
Rourke (6-4, 220) – an Oakville, Ontario, native – would be a fan favorite in Buffalo. He passed for 3,042 yards, 29 TDs and five interceptions in leading the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff last season. According to PFF, Rourke was the 6th best intermediate passer in the FBS last season. He had 13 TDs – most among FBS QBs – and two interceptions on passes of 10-to-19 yards. He also is effective on the back-shoulder throw with Indiana. He took 20 sacks last season – including a total of 12 against Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Still, Rourke could be a solid backup option for the Bills early in his career.
- Minnesota Vikings: Max Brosmer, Minnesota (No. 187)
Brosmer (6-2, 217) is an intriguing deep sleeper given his college experience. Brosmer tore his ACL in 2021 at New Hampshire, but he returned and he averaged 3,309 passing yards, 28 TDs and six interceptions the next two seasons. He had 2,928 yards, 18 TDs and six interceptions in one season with Minnesota. He was 42 of 63 (66.7%) and averaged 216.5 yards with two TDs and two interceptions against elite defenses at Michigan and Penn State. He’s also one of the better intermediate passers in the draft. He makes sense as a close-to-home fit for the Vikings and coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings don’t have a seventh-round pick, so if not here it is possible Brosmer falls to the seventh round or is one of the top free-agent pickups.
Seventh round
- Carolina Panthers: Brady Cook, Missouri (No. 230)
Cook (6-2, 214) struggled through injuries as a senior at Missouri, but he was 20-5 as a starter for the Tigers in the SEC the last two seasons. He flashed at the NFL Scouting Combine with his athleticism among the few quarterbacks who worked out, but he will need to improve his accuracy to stick at the pro level. Cook had a 44.5% completion percentage on passes of 10 yards or more in 2024. He could battle Jack Plummer for the third spot with the Panthers.
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