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

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.

In this seven-round 2025 mock draft, I wanted to focus on getting the Browns playmakers. The Browns have five picks in the first 105 picks of the draft. They must find difference-makers with their nine picks in the draft. Here are some of my favorite prospects in the 2025 NFL draft.

This isn't the first time the Browns have been linked to not taking one of the two quarterbacks. There have been mock drafts that have Cleveland grabbing the best defensive player

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.

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.”

Mel Kiper Jr. was the start of that industry for most people which makes his NFL mock draft the most interesting for fans. His first came out today and has the Cleveland Browns de