The Cleveland Browns hold the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, a prime position to secure a quarterback who could anchor the franchise for the next decade.
However, their good fortune in climbing the draft order late in the season is tempered by some bad luck. Last year’s draft boasted six quarterbacks selected within the top 12 picks, two of whom—Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders, No. 2) and Bo Nix (Denver Broncos, No. 12)—helped lead their teams to the playoffs.
This year’s draft class, by comparison, features just two quarterbacks projected as first-round talents: Cam Ward from the Miami Hurricanes and Shedeur Sanders from the Colorado Buffaloes. Neither is regarded as highly as Nix was in the previous draft, but given the league-wide demand for quarterbacks and the thin free-agent pool, both are likely to go in the top two picks.
The Browns have a glaring need at quarterback, especially with Deshaun Watson entering the fourth year of his five-year, $230 million contract, which has been marred by poor play and two Achilles tendon tears. The second overall pick provides Cleveland with a golden opportunity to address the position.
That said, trading back with another QB-needy team or seeking a short-term option in free agency also remains a possibility. Yet, mock drafts by ESPN’s Mel Kiper and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah suggest the Browns won’t choose a quarterback or trade back. Instead, both analysts predict Cleveland will select Colorado’s versatile star, Travis Hunter, with the No. 2 pick.
Travis Hunter Could Be Too Talented for Browns to Pass Up
Wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes.
If the Browns do choose a quarterback, Sanders seems the more likely option at No. 2, as Kiper projects Tennessee to select Ward with the first overall pick. However, Jeremiah envisions a scenario where both quarterbacks fall beyond Cleveland’s selection, with Ward heading to the New York Giants at No. 3 and Sanders landing with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6.
Both Kiper and Jeremiah highlight Hunter’s unique talent and versatility as the primary reasons the Browns might pass on a quarterback to draft him.
“Quarterback is in play here for the Browns, but in this scenario, they pick Hunter, the Heisman Trophy-winning two-way star,” Jeremiah noted on January 25. “I’m in the minority as someone who prefers him as a full-time offensive player who moonlights on defense.”
Kiper echoed the sentiment:
“Hunter is just that good. I see elite quickness and ball skills on both sides of the ball, traits that helped him tally 15 touchdown catches and four interceptions this season,” he wrote on January 22. “The Browns would likely use him primarily at receiver and sprinkle him in at cornerback in specific situations.”
Free Agency Could Reveal Browns’ Plans for No. 2 Pick
Head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns.
If the Browns select Hunter, it would indicate a longer-term approach to rebuilding, likely involving a veteran bridge quarterback in free agency.
Because free agency begins in March, a month before the draft, Cleveland’s strategy for the No. 2 pick may become apparent well in advance.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson could hit the open market, though Wilson’s price tag would likely make him unattainable for the Browns. Similarly, Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings may be too costly.
A more realistic option could be former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who is expected to be released by the Atlanta Falcons after being benched midseason. Cutting Cousins before mid-March would save the Falcons from paying him a $10 million roster bonus as a backup.
