BEREA, Ohio -- The 2025 NFL draft has begun (ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With their first pick, the Cleveland Browns took Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham No. 5 overall after trading the No. 2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here's a look at Cleveland's selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 5 overall (via Jacksonville): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
My take: The Browns passed up the opportunity to get one of the prospects regarded as the consensus top-two players in the draft in Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, but still ended up with one of the best players in Graham and one they view as a perfect fit for their defense. Graham lived in the backfield as a penetrating defensive lineman and Cleveland's plan is for him to be a consistent contributor to a deep and aggressive defensive line.
Will he start as a rookie?: Graham may not be a Day 1 starter -- the team signed Maliek Collins this offseason, has veteran Shelby Harris on the roster and 2024 second-round pick Mike Hall is returning from a severe knee injury, but Graham will be part of the defensive line rotation early on. GM Andrew Berry said he wants his defensive fronts to be six-to-eight players deep, so Graham will be able to find a role as a rookie.
What we're hearing about Graham: "He is a DNA match for our defense, a disruptive interior penetrator ... we thought he was one of the more dominant trench prospects in this year's class." -- Berry
Round 2, No. 33 overall: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
My take: Despite a massive need for playmakers on offense, the Browns kicked off Day 2 by taking Schwesinger, a 2024 first-team All-American. It's a notable move, given the uncertain status of starting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a 2023 Pro Bowler whose season ended last year because of a neck injury. The Browns have given an indefinite return timeline for him. If Owusu-Koramoah remains sidelined, Schwesinger could compete to be an early starter in the middle of the Browns' defense.
Key Stat: Schwesinger had just four missed tackles in 2024. According to Sports Info Solutions, there were 47 FBS players with at least 100 tackles in 2024 -- his four missed tackles were the fewest among those players. That will be helpful for a Browns defense that struggled with tackling last season; Cleveland allowed the seventh-most yards after contact per rush last season (1.87).
Round 2, No. 36 overall (via Jacksonville): Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
My take: The Browns finally targeted a skill position player and got one who starred not too far away in Columbus in Judkins. Cleveland needed to upgrade its backfield with fan favorite Nick Chubb unsigned. Adding Judkins as a physical runner is a nice complement to Jerome Ford, who has been a big-play threat in his career.
Key Stat: Judkins has 179 forced missed tackles since 2022, the fourth most in the FBS in that span. Last season, the Browns were tied for 16th in yards after contact per rush (1.69).
Round 3, No. 67 overall: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
My take: The Browns added another playmaker on Day 2, nabbing Fannin, the most productive tight end in the FBS last season. A 2024 Consensus All-American and the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Fannin set a single-season FBS tight end record for receptions (117) and yards (1,555). The Browns needed a tight end behind David Njoku, a 2023 Pro Bowler who is a free agent after the 2025 season.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? Njoku is entrenched as a starter, but the Browns will likely run more two-tight-end sets in 2025 as head coach Kevin Stefanski takes back playcalling duties. There should be plenty of opportunities for Fannin to get snaps in those personnel groupings as a rookie and contribute in the passing game.
Round 3, No. 94 overall: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
My take: The Browns ended Day 2 with a quarterback, but with Shedeur Sanders, whom the team spent extensive time with during the pre-draft process, still on the board, it wasn't the passer many expected. Instead, Cleveland opted for Gabriel, an undersized (5-11, 205 pounds) but experienced quarterback who spent six years in college. The Browns met with Gabriel multiple times and despite his size, ultimately felt comfortable making him the long-awaited rookie addition to the quarterbacks room. When asked about the second tier of quarterbacks in the draft, an AFC scout named Gabriel as a wild card, comparing him to the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy -- another quarterback with less-than-ideal measurables but accuracy in the pocket.
What we're hearing about Gabriel: "The biggest negative that you can say about him is he doesn't have ideal height, but that's not something that we felt showed up in his game" -- Berry
What's next: The Browns addressed the offense heavily on Day 2, getting a pair of playmakers in Judkins and Fannin before wrapping up with a developmental quarterback in Gabriel. With three picks on Day 3, Cleveland could use its remaining draft capital to target a wide receiver -- Jerry Jeudy is the only wideout on the roster with 50 catches in a season -- and add depth to an aging offensive line.
Remaining picks:
Round 4: No. 126 (via Jacksonville)
Round 6: No. 166
Round 6: No. 192