The Cleveland Browns face a pivotal decision with the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and trade talks with the Jets are heating up.

In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea — a top-five mini-mock — he had the Browns taking Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. But in Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock of the year for ESPN, he had Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter going to Cleveland and Sanders going to the New York Giants at No. 3.

Longtime ESPN and college football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has released his first mock draft of the 2025 NFL draft season. In the mock, he has the Browns selecting the reigning Heisman winner.

Mel Kiper, draft expert for ESPN, has the Cleveland Browns passing on a quarterback for arguably the best player in the draft.

Cleveland Browns: “Take a QB or trade back,” asks ESPN’s Jason Reid. “That's the Browns' dilemma. Likely stuck with Deshaun Watson's contract until 2026, the smart play would be to draft a QB while also signing a veteran through free agency.”

Of their picks in the final five rounds in the draft, only James Hudson III and Tony Fields II were on the roster in 2024. Hudson was the last of those players to play with the Browns, playing until Week 4 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

The Cleveland Browns have a tough decision to make this April. Following a 3-14 season, the Browns possess the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Deshaun Watson recently undergoing a second surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon,

The Cleveland Browns' No. 2 overall pick has enough value that they should seriously consider trading it away.