Major questions face the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2025 season and none is bigger than the status of quarterback Deshaun Watson. While there is an opportunity to address the position in the NFL draft, a new projection takes a different route.
Watson, 29, signed a five-year, $230 million deal in 2022 after spending five seasons with the Houston Texas.
The former first-round pick has appeared in just 19 games in his first three seasons in Cleveland and faces an uphill battle to recover from a torn Achilles tendon. Watson sustained the injury in Week 7 before re-injuring his surgically-repaired Achilles in January.
Jameis Winston started seven games in Watson's place, and the Browns also gave starts to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe during the 3-14 season.
Winston is set to become a free-agent on March 12, creating even more questions for the role. Cleveland could take a top passer like Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.
However, according to Todd McShay's new NFL mock draft, his first in two years, Cleveland takes Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall.
"I've heard from multiple sources now (that) Cleveland – they're not pulling the trigger on a quarterback here at two," he said Thursday on "The Todd McShay Show."
“In this scenario, I think Cleveland could take Travis Hunter, the cornerback wide receiver out of Colorado," McShay said.
Hunter (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) took home the Heisman Trophy, in part, for his unique skillset as a two-way player. The former five-star recruit totaled 1,360 snaps, the most by an FBS player.
And his production didn't suffer, as Hunter caught 15 touchdown passes (tied 3rd nationally) on 96 receptions for 1,258 yards (tied 5th). Hunter also recorded 11 pass breakups (2nd in Big 12) with four interceptions and a forced fumble.
According to McShay, Cleveland could land a multifaceted prospect like Hunter and still sign a starting quarterback in free agency.
"I've now heard from from two different people that Kirk Cousins could be brought in on the cheap this offseason," he said.
Cousins, 36, spent last season with the Atlanta Falcons after signing a four-year, $180 million deal. Coming off a torn Achilles himself, Cousins was ultimately benched in Week 16 for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
The Browns still have plenty of work to do in evaluation with the NFL combine remaining (Feb. 27-March 2) in Indianapolis. Hunter, who was initially listed as a defensive back, has been included as a receiver before the event.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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