It's Next Year Again . . . 2025 Version

This year I told myself to not get hung up on cap space because, apparently there are processes in place that are way above my pay grade.

But I can still count heads and compare my results to a typical roster. So, I took our roster from 2024 - week 18 and determined who on that list is, at least, under contract for 2025 (and 2026 and 2027 while I was at it).

 

OFFENSE

 

DEFENSE

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

ERROR REPORT

Jerome Ford is shown as a UFA in 2025. He isn't a UFA until 2026.

 

Small victories

 

Too early to tell three round mock draft with a twist.....

I think there is a GREAT chance that the Raiders will want Shedeur Sanders to be in Silver and Black... what if....

Browns trade down to #6 overall...

Browns receive #6, # 37 and 2026 First Round draft pick, Raiders receive #2 and 2025 6th round pick (Browns have 3 6th rounders currently)... by today's standards that's about the going rate for that trade.

1. Titans - Ward
2. Raidres - Sanders
3. Giants - Travis Hunter
4. Patriots - Abdul Carter
5. Jaguars - Mason Graham
6. 49ers - Will Campbell (Browns - Trade down with 49ers. SF receives #6, Browns receive #11 and #43)

Wishful thinking, as many of these players are all over the boards currently. There is no consensus on players outside the top 7-8...

#11 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
#33 Josh Simmons OT tOSU (2024 injury could push him down the board. If he has a clean bill of health, he ends up in the top 15)
#37 Jack Sawyer EDGE tOSU (it may seem like I am going homer here, but they really are slated to be in this area of the draft, it is just coincidence)
#43 Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss (currently ranked in the mid-50's, but I have a feeling he will be a riser)
#67 Quinshon Judkins RB tOSU (again, I am going off of need and best available at this point, not because of the Buckeyes)
#94 Demetrius Knight Jr LB South Carolina (perfect for Jim Schwartz scheme)

I'll stop there for now, since we haven't even had the Senior Bowl yet... This would, from the current state, be my dream draft. Subject to change...

I repeat one last time... The Ohio State players are merely coincidence based on need and current rankings. If, I'm being honest though, I could easily do a complete OSU draft and no one could question the picks based on need and current (too early) rankings. Maybe I will do that next....

If you can't get a great trade, take the chance on Sanders... We need a QB, that's for sure, but we need a lot of replacement players coming up with maturing contracts and maturing players. Sanders won't get past the Giants, so the Raiders are on the clock to trade up... That is of course, unless the Titans covet Ward over Sanders.

 

I was right there with you until this.

My thoughts are, if you can't find a trade partner, then take Travis Hunter. He's like getting two players . . . a WR and a CB and we need both.

 

He won’t be both in the NFL.. Hunter is an above average WR and an above average CB… in college terms. I know Heisman screams NFL success, but it really isn’t. He’s one helluva an athlete, but I’m not onboard with generational talent.

I would prefer Abdul Carter if we stay put and don’t go QB. I think his ceiling is higher. If there is a generational talent in this draft, it’s Carter. I’m just not sure there is a generational talent in this draft. Even Ashton Jeanty is iffy when talking generational.. I think he is the second best in this draft when talking generational…yet, not convinced.

My thought is… if you stay at #2 and there is a high potential QB, you take him… I don’t have a lot of faith in Sanders BUT he does have an extremely high ceiling, my worry is he also has a very low floor. I just don’t know… it’s a tough one.

 

Admittedly, I have not had the time to search for players full game tape like I did in the past. I've watched highlight reels, but damn, EVERYONE looks good on hype reels. I do like what they say about Sanders work ethic and leadership qualities... I just don't know that his arm is strong enough to make all the throws. I like what I see 25 yards or less, then not so much down field. Could be footwork, could be coached up, but if it's the arm, can it be fixed while fixing everything else he will need to acclimate to the NFL? If it can, then he could be really good... Or, does he think he is the shit, then blame it on being drafted by the Browns 2-3 years from now? That's one of the biggest things I worry about is his dad filling him with the thought that if he agrees to play for the Browns, he is already doomed.

 

As promised tOSU Browns draft:

I'm still going with the trade down(S) here, as there isn't a Buckeye that will be in the top 5 of this draft And I don't believe Berry is going to stay at #2 for some reason... A lot will be drafted, but not in the top 5..

#11 Emeka Egbuka WR tOSU I believe he is a top 15 talent, but admittedly, this might be a tad too high for the simple fact this is a deep WR draft.
#33 Josh Simmons OT tOSU (2024 injury could push him down the board. If he has a clean bill of health, he ends up in the top 15)
#37 Jack Sawyer EDGE tOSU
#43 JT Tuimoloau DT tOSU taking care of both lines in this draft
#67 Treyveon Henderson RB tOSU
#94 Quinshon Judkins RB tOSU Need depth... if he were still available, like a lot of the top 300 lists predict, I would jump on it here, even if we already drafted a RB. Truth be told, I like him better than Henderson, I'm just going off of the current rankings from the talking heads.
#103 Will Howard QB tOSU
#165 Seth McLaughlin C tOSU
#181 Davison Igbinosun CB tOSU
#194 Jordan Hancock S tOSU

Hell, I edited it with a few more Browns picks just to show how deep this freaking college team is..This isn't every draft eligible player by the way. I had to pass on the following simply because they would be gone before the next pick available:
Tyleik Williams DT tOSU (predicted late first round)
Lathan Ransom S tOSU (predicted 2nd round)
Donovan Jackson OT tOSU (predicted 3rd round)
Cody Simon LB tOSU (predicted mid 5th round)


With the depth of this RB class, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Browns either move on from Chubb or even to see Chubb retire for that matter. I could see the Browns agreeing to pay his full amount from 2024 to thank him for what he has done for the organization if he retires a Brown. The injuries are just adding up way too fast for the guy. What I don't see is them adding a "good" free agent, when there is so much to be offered in the draft. If anything, this draft is going to provide plenty of RB, OT and WRs for everyone that wants one. Even if they aren't generational.

I've seen some other Browns trade predictions that add even more picks in the top 100 and frankly you could make justification for even more Buckeyes to be drafted. It's ridiculous the talent from Ohio State in this draft.

 

Well, with the Myles Garrett statement, where do we go from here?

First, is there even an avenue to trade him with the dead cap that goes with it?
Second, what is his trade value with two years left on his contract?
Third, he wants a contender, so who is realistically a trade partner that he will agree to? Nevermind, I just looked it up, he doesn't have a no trade clause.
Fourth, what to do with a gaping hole on defense and possibly (2) later first round draft picks, if they could make the numbers work on a trade.

I might just mark the Browns 2025 season off my calendar... this is getting out of hand...

 

I certainly hope not, but I wouldn't put it past them... They don't have a very good record for making the smart decision.

 

Well… at some point, it always becomes about money…

https://x.com/browns/status/1898767662114562409?s=46&t=NPetVtwW01JDwQLcH2aJHw

Myles Garrett is extended IN CLEVELAND.

 

Adam Schefter
•6h
Today’s record contract in Cleveland also includes a no-trade clause and ties Myles Garrett to the Browns through the 2030 season. The path from Cleveland to Canton is back on as Garrett continues his pursuit of a championship for the team that drafted No. 1 overall in 2017.

 

The Cleveland Browns have traded QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Kenny Pickett

 

Sooo… who’s excited?

 

The Browns traded for Pickett so they would have a bridge with starter's experience.

Cleveland is drafting a quarterback at the top.

 

And still probably signing another QB to start with drafted QB at QB2 once he learns the playbook which moves Pickett to QB3.

Which guy for QB1? I don’t know. Depends on the cap situation and who will settle for what we can afford for a year. Gonna a whole new QB room with DTR and Winston gone and Watson on IR all year.