Browns' Surprising Draft Grade For Shedeur Sanders Strategy

Day 1 through Day 3 the Cleveland Browns were at the center of attention at the 2025 NFL Draft. The craze started with the team's decision to trade the No. 2 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars and ended with the team taking Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. 

Across the football world, those two moves are drawing in reactions spanning across the spectrum, especially the second. 

In a draft where the Browns came away with more future draft capital but now have a five-man quarterback room, here's how their seven selections graded out. 

Round 1 Pick 5 (5) — Mason Graham, DT Michigan: A-

The best part about this pick is the value that comes with it as the Browns will get the Jaguars' first-rounder next season. Nonetheless, Cleveland moved down three spots to take Graham, an immediate plug-and-play starter on the defense. 

Graham boosts the team's run defense and provides an ideal complement to Myles Garrett on the defensive line. Cleveland does pass on a chance to add Travis Hunter here, but Graham should be an impact player from the jump. 

Round 2 Pick 1 (33) — Carson Schwesinger, LB UCLA: B+

Cleveland needed some insurance in the middle of the defense with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's neck injury giving some pause about his future prospects. They answered with Schwesinger who broke out in 2024. 

His 90 solo tackles were the most in the nation and helped him earn All-American honors. 

Round 2 Pick 4 (36) — Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State: B+

It was time for Nick Chubb's departure from the Browns' backfield and Cleveland identified two prospects to add into the mix. The first being Judkins who starred in Ohio State's backfield during their championship run. 

He has a path to become No. 2 ball-carrier for Cleveland and should be utilized as a short-yardage enforcer that the team missed last season. 

Round 3 Pick 3 (67) — Harold Fannin Jr., TE Bowling Green: A-

The Browns have a complicated cap situation and retaining free agents next offseason could be a challenge. David Njoku projects to be among that group, so Cleveland identified a solid potential replacement. 

Fannin led all of FBS in receptions and receiving yards last season, able to impact the game down the field or at the line of scrimmage as a blocker. 

Round 3 Pick 30 (94) — Dillon Gabriel, QB Oregon: C-

This is where the Browns' draft took an interesting turn, selecting their first quarterback of the draft. However, Gabriel was not the expected decision especially with Sanders still on the clock. 

Gabriel excelled at all three of his destinations in the college ranks and led Oregon to a Big Ten championship last season. However, his size casts doubt on the legitimacy of his professional aspirations. 

Round 4 Pick 24 (126) — Dylan Sampson, RB Tennessee: B-

Sampson was a top 10 running back in the class and a dynamic playmaker in space. As the Browns reshape their backfield, his playmaking ability to help him challenge for reps with Ford and Judkins in the mix. 

However, the stable is now crowded and adding two ball carriers is a curious strategy when they could have supplemented another position. 

Round 5 Pick 6 (144) — Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado: B+

This is the pick that will get the most talk heading into the rest of the Browns offseason. The value here shines brightest among all aspects of this decision given that some had Sanders coming off the board in the first round. 

But Sanders walks into a complicated quarterback room where he essentially has to beat out four other players to ever earn any time. Perhaps he someday works up the ladder and the Browns boast the greatest value play in the history of the draft. 

This will merely add to the dramatics already surrounding the quarterback spot. The idea to foster competition is certainly a fair one, but doing so between five players seems extremely unnecessary.