Browns draft needs: Full list of picks, options for Cleveland in 2025 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns entered the 2024 NFL season hoping to build upon an 11-6 campaign in 2023. Instead, they fell off completely.

The Browns enter their Week 12 "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers sporting a record of just 2-8. They have struggled in all aspects of the game this season, seeing regression on defense while watching the team's offense sputter badly amid quarterback and offensive line woes.

As such, Cleveland won't be preparing to play in January for the second consecutive year. It will be going back to the drawing board and trying to retool its roster back into a contender for the 2025 NFL season.

The best way for the Browns to do that will be to have a good performance in the 2025 NFL draft. They are currently in the running for a top-five pick and could eventually land the No. 1 overall selection. That would position them to fill one of their many needs with at least one blue-chip player.

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Browns draft needs

The Browns have a lot of holes on their roster at present that will need to be filled during the offseason. Below is a look at some of their most pressing issues they will have to address in 2025.

• Quarterback: Can the Browns really go into the 2025 NFL season with Deshaun Watson as the team's unquestioned top quarterback option? He was a bottom-five starting quarterback league-wide before he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in Week 7. Watson's fully guaranteed contract makes it difficult to move on from him, but Cleveland may consider drafting some high-end competition for the disappointing veteran.

• Wide receiver: Cedric Tillman and Jerry Jeudy look like a solid receiver duo, but Elijah Moore is set to be a free agent following the 2024 NFL season. The Browns could consider acquiring a true No. 1 wide-out to bring their receiving corps to the next level and adequately replace Amari Cooper.

• Running back: Nick Chubb is a free agent. Even if he returns, the Browns need to replenish their depth at the position. Jerome Ford was merely mediocre when starting in place of Chubb, so grabbing a mid-round runner would be a solid move for Cleveland.

• Offensive tackle: Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin have both struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. Dawand Jones was shaping into a strong starter, but he suffered a season-ending fractured ankle in Week 11. As a result, adding a replacement for the free-agent-to-be Wills might be a smart move. That player could battle Conklin for the starting job and become a long-term bookend for Jones.

• Edge rusher: The Browns have Myles Garrett on the edge but little else after trading away Za'Darius Smith. Recent draft picks Alex Wright or Isaiah McGuire could make an impact, but adding a high-impact pass-rushing partner for Garrett could help take Cleveland's defense to the next level.

• Linebacker: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's future is in question after a neck injury he suffered during the 2024 NFL season. If he can return, the Browns may be OK at linebacker. If not, they will need to replace Pro Football Focus' sixth-graded linebacker for 2024 with a true three-down threat.

• Kicker: Dustin Hopkins has made just 14-of-20 field goals this season. His 70% success rate is the second-worst among qualified players league-wide, ahead of only Greg Zuerlein. The Browns could consider adding a replacement for the 34-year-old late in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Browns draft picks

The Browns presently own nine picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. Below is a look at all of them, per the team's official website:

• Round 1 (own)

• Round 2 (own)

• Round 3 (own)

• Round 3 (from Bills, via WR Amari Cooper trade)

• Round 4 (own)

• Round 5 (from Lions, via DE Za'Darius Smith trade)

• Round 6 (own)

• Round 6 (from Vikings, via DE Za'Darius Smith trade)

• Round 6 (from Bears, via DT Chris Williams trade)

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Projected 2025 NFL Draft order

Below is a look at the projected 2025 NFL Draft order entering NFL Week 12, according to Tankathon.com:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .492 strength of schedule

2. Tennessee Titans: 2-8; .514 SOS

3. Cleveland Browns: 2-8; .517 SOS

4. New York Giants: 2-8; .520 SOS

5. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-8; .525 SOS

6. New England Patriots: 3-8; .472 SOS

7. New York Jets: 3-8; .511 SOS

8. Carolina Panthers: 3-7; .486 SOS

9. Dallas Cowboys: 3-7; .525 SOS

10. New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .483 SOS

11. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .491 SOS

12. Miami Dolphins: 4-6; .436 SOS

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-6; .514 SOS

14. Chicago Bears: 4-6; .560 SOS

15. Indianapolis Colts: 5-6; .478 SOS

16. Seattle Seahawks: 5-5; .531 SOS

17. Los Angeles Rams: 5-5; .534 SOS

18. San Francisco 49ers: 5-5; .549 SOS

19. Denver Broncos: 6-5; .494 SOS

20. Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .500 SOS

21. Arizona Cardinals: 6-4; .540 SOS

22. Washington Commanders: 7-4; .437 SOS

23. Houston Texans: 7-4; .472 SOS

24. Baltimore Ravens: 7-4; .523 SOS

25. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-3; .469 SOS

26. Green Bay Packers: 7-3; .546 SOS

27. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-2; .469 SOS

28. Minnesota Vikings: 8-2; .503 SOS

29. Philadelphia Eagles: 8-2; .429 SOS

30. Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .461 SOS

31. Kansas City Chiefs: 9-1; .500 SOS

32. Detroit Lions: 9-1; .523 SOS

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Browns draft options

The Browns enter Week 12 projected to have the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Here are a few prospects that could be on the board for them at that spot.

• QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado. If the Browns decide to replace Watson, Sanders could draw consideration. The Colorado product leads the NCAA in completion percentage (72.9%) and passing touchdowns (27) while throwing for 3,222 yards and seven interceptions. He has the makings of a dynamic starter, so Cleveland could be convinced to roll with him over Watson.

• QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama. If not Sanders, then Milroe could be Cleveland's preference. The Alabama quarterback is still developing as a passer but has a Jalen Hurts-like rushing skill set. Milroe has the tools needed to be a successful NFL quarterback; he just needs the time to develop.

• WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado. Hunter is favored to win the Heisman Trophy after being a two-way star at Colorado. The Browns could take him in the hopes of developing him into a No. 1 receiver at the NFL level, and his mix of speed and instincts would fit well with Tillman and Jeudy.

• WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. McMillan leads the FBS with 1,136 receiving yards and has a penchant for making acrobatic catches look easy. His 6-5 frame and elite body control could endear him to Cleveland, and it would be difficult to account for both his and Tillman's size (Tillman is 6-3).

• OT Will Campbell, LSU. Campbell is just 20 but has established himself as one of the best linemen in college football. At 6-6, 324 pounds, he has the size needed to stay at tackle and could create a formidable duo with Jones.

• OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas. Banks is 6-4, 320 pounds and will rival Campbell for the top draft spot among tackles. It could simply be a matter of which prospect the Browns prefer, or if they believe one is more likely to succeed on the outside.

• EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia. The 2025 NFL Draft is more offense-heavy near the top, but Williams has the athleticism and production (11 sacks in three seasons) needed to become a top-10 pick.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Browns draft picks: Full list of needs, options for 2025 NFL Draft