<![CDATA[Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft]]> https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/evaluating-the-browns-roster-ahead-of-the-2025-nfl-draft-draft-on-tap

 

Evaluating the Browns roster ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft | Draft on Tap

The Browns have added six new players to the roster during free agency 

Mar 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
 
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Kelsey Russo

Staff Writer

 

With the initial flurry of free agent signings in the review mirror, and the first two weeks of the new league year in the books, initial rosters for the 2025 season are beginning to take some shape.

Much can change from March until the initial 53-man roster is set in August, with roster decisions to come throughout the offseason and into training camp. The 2025 NFL Draft is also still ahead, set to start on April 24, and teams will add young new talent to their rosters.

The Browns have a total of 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, beginning with the No. 2 pick in the first round. They also added six new players during free agency and re-signed two players from their 2024 roster.

So, let's take a look at where the Browns roster stands about a month until the draft.

Quarterback

The Browns have added one quarterback to the position room with the trade for Kenny Pickett in exchange for Dorian Thompson-Robinson. With Jameis Winston signing with the Giants and Deshaun Watson set to miss time due to a re-injured Achilles tendon, the Browns will need to add depth at the position – either through a veteran quarterback, drafting a rookie in the 2025 NFL Draft or both.

Running Back

Cleveland's running back room consists of Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong Jr., as Nick Chubb became an unrestricted free agent when the new league began on March 12. While Ford has filled as the featured back in the past two seasons after Chubb sustained the season-ending injury in 2023 and worked his way back in 2024, the Browns could use a third option in the unit.

Wide Receiver

In his first season with the Browns, Jerry Jeudy established himself as the top receiver among the corps, leading the pass catchers with 90 receptions for 1,229 receiving yards. They also have young players in Cedric Tillman, David Bell, Jamari Thrash and Michael Woods II who have each shown their individual potential and could step into larger roles in 2025. The Browns also signed Kaden Davis to the active roster in January 2025, adding another young player to the mix in the receiving corps.

 
Tight End

The tight end unit has a question mark as Jordan Akins became an unrestricted free agent when the new league year began on March 12. The Browns did make a move and tendered exclusive rights free agent Blake Whiteheart before the start of free agency to keep him on the roster for another season. Whiteheart played 11 games over the course of the season, recording six receptions for 51 receiving yards and one touchdown. The room is led by David Njoku, who had the second-most receptions for the Browns in 2024 with 64 for 505 receiving yards and five touchdowns over 11 games. It also has Brenden Bates, who the Browns signed towards the end of the 2024 season and played two games for Cleveland.

Offensive Line

During the first two weeks of free agency, the Browns added some key players to their offensive line in OT Cornelius Lucas and G Teven Jenkins to bolster the unit – one that dealt with multiple injuries during the 2024 season. However, with a mainly healthy group in RG Wyatt Teller, RT Jack Conklin, C Ethan Pocic and G Zak Zinter, as well as the return of LG Joel Bitonio for the 2025 season, the offensive line has a mix of veteran presence and young talent. While the Browns await the return of T Dawand Jones, they have also added players who can be options at different positions to help add depth to a unit that has dealt with numerous injuries in past seasons.

Defensive Line

Not only did the Browns sign DE Myles Garrett to a contract extension that goes through the 2030 season, but they also signed multiple players to help fill in their defensive line with DT Maliek Collins and DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. As the Browns wait out the return of DT Mike Hall Jr., who sustained a knee injury in Week 18 of the 2024 season, Collins will bring another option on the interior in their attack-style defense alongside veteran DT Shelby Harris second-year DT Jowon Briggs – who used his rookie season to earn a spot on the active roster. Tryon-Shoyinka also adds another edge rusher alongside Garrett, Ogbo Okoronkwo and Alex Wright.

Linebacker

Cleveland re-signed ILB Devin Bush and signed LB Jerome Baker to bolster the position as they wait for the return of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – who sustained a neck injury during the 2024 season. The linebacker room still features Jordan Hicks, Mohamoud Diabate, Nathaniel Watson, Winston Reid and Khaleke Hudson for a solid mix of veteran and young talent. Hicks had the third-most tackles among the defense during the 2024 season with 78 and added two sacks and four passes defensed. Diabate also stepped into a larger role, as he played in 13 games and finished the season with 70 tackles – fifth-most on the team – with five tackles for loss and three passes defensed.

Cornerback

The cornerback room is running it back from the 2024 season, with CB Tony Brown II re-signing with the Browns in free agency. The room is led by four-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, as well as young players like Cameron Mitchell, Martin Emerson Jr. and Myles Harden who have found their respective roles in the secondary. The Browns also signed Anthony Kendall in February and have Chigozie Anusiem on the active roster as other options at corner.

Safety

Safety will look slightly different for the Browns with the retirement of Rodney McLeod Jr. Grant Delpit is the veteran presence in the room with Ronnie Hickman and Chris Edmonds as the young players in the group. There could be room to add an additional safety to the unit to provide depth at the position.
 
 

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]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/72385/article-about-evaluating-the-browns-roster-before-the-draftRSS for NodeThu, 01 Oct 2026 05:29:56 GMTWed, 02 Apr 2025 12:21:36 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft on Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:35:04 GMT]]>

@ballpeen said:

That is always a given for all teams.

Much is said about Berry not being very good at player selection. I never hear anything about our scouting department.  They are the ones who compile the information that Berry is given.

Sometimes i wonder if scouts actually scout anymore or simply submit reports that mirror the national scouting services such as PFF and others? A scout would have to have a pretty strong will to submit reports that deviate much from what all the other scouting reports say.

I hear ya!  It certainly invites wonder.   Berry worked under Howie Roseman before returning to the Browns.  If anything, that sure seems like a good organization to learn about the draft as well as learning how to hire scouts - and provide them with performance objectives and evaluate their performance accordingly.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/1153798https://brownsboard.com/post/1153798Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:35:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft on Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:04:54 GMT]]>

@dutch-oven said:

As long as they can accurately identify who the bpa’s are… that’s the tough part

That is always a given for all teams.

Much is said about Berry not being very good at player selection. I never hear anything about our scouting department.  They are the ones who compile the information that Berry is given.

Sometimes i wonder if scouts actually scout anymore or simply submit reports that mirror the national scouting services such as PFF and others? A scout would have to have a pretty strong will to submit reports that deviate much from what all the other scouting reports say.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/1153794https://brownsboard.com/post/1153794Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:04:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:46:50 GMT]]>

@texasag1969 said:

So BPA should prevail.

As long as they can accurately identify who the bpa’s are… that’s the tough part

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/1153776https://brownsboard.com/post/1153776Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:46:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:26:20 GMT]]>

@dutch-oven said:

This really speaks to what we were talking about the other day - virtually any player at any position taken in the upcoming draft will fill a need. There is no position that has a glut of talent on the roster 

So BPA should prevail.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/1153766https://brownsboard.com/post/1153766Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:26:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Article about evaluating the Browns Roster before the Draft on Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:40:17 GMT]]> This really speaks to what we were talking about the other day - virtually any player at any position taken in the upcoming draft will fill a need. There is no position that has a glut of talent on the roster 

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/1153763https://brownsboard.com/post/1153763Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:40:17 GMT