The big “what if”. ESPN’s released their annual redraft piece where based on the previous season’s results, they select which players NFL teams would draft if they had a re-do. This is an especially fascinating exercise for the Cleveland Browns who made a blockbuster trade with Jacksonville on Day 1 of the 2025 draft.
In this two-round redraft alternate universe, the Browns don’t get the haul from a Jaguars deal. Instead they stay at No. 2, and are left with only their own second round selection, instead of the extra two from Jacksonville.
The real world scenario had Cleveland move down from two to five, and take DT Mason Graham. GM Andrew Berry followed that up with a pair of stellar second round selections in LB Carson Schwesinger and RB Quinshon Judkins.
Let’s look at what ESPN thinks the Browns would’ve done if they had the chance to do the 2025 NFL Draft all over again. I’ll add in my analysis of their choices after each pick.
More: The secret to Todd Monken’s new Browns offense (it’s not Shedeur Sanders!)
No. 2
Original pick: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado (JAX traded up)
New pick: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
The Browns find themselves in a similar spot after failing to hit on either quarterback — Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders — they drafted. Shough’s sample size (nine starts) is still small, and there’s no knowing how he would have performed with Cleveland’s supporting cast. But he impressed in less-than-ideal circumstances in New Orleans. — Daniel Oyefusi
Analysis: While I don’t disagree on the selection of a quarterback if the Browns didn’t trade down, it wouldn’t be Shough. Jaxon Dart is still on the board, and showed a much higher ceiling in his rookie year. Battling through injuries, Dart possesses the dual threat took kit that new head coach Todd Monken could really elevate.
No. 33
Original pick: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
New pick: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Schwesinger is off the board, and a run on offensive linemen leaves the Browns without a much-needed addition there. But Cleveland would have no problem selecting Fannin higher than his original third-round slot. He emerged as the Browns’ top pass catcher despite an unsettled QB situation. — Daniel Oyefusi
Analysis: Soon to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year, missing out on Schewsinger is a disappointment. However, the emergence of Fannin as a year-one star with unlimited growth potential in a new Monken offense is a great choice for the top of the second round. This also means the Browns would miss out on Judkins, and would need to address the backfield later. Maybe in this scenario it would’ve meant the return of fan favorite Nick Chubb.
