With the 2024 NFL season just coming to a close, some of the biggest stories are projections for the next year’s 2025 NFL Draft. In fact, the Cleveland Browns are tied for the best odds in our Football Power Index (FPI) simulations of any No. Instead, they are universally pegged to pursue a different fantasy environment as April nears — a new quarterback. The draft landscape is shaping up to be intriguing, with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs considering contract options for their offensive linemen and other franchises eyeing the quarterback talent entering the league.
The draft’s dynamics have shifted significantly after teams traded away valuable picks during last year’s draft. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons have swapped their 2026 Day 1 picks. This bold step has the potential to shape their approach for years to come. At the same time, new college football star prospects are turning heads and taking names, creating massive ripple effects for the pros.
Cleveland Browns Eye Quarterback in Draft
The Cleveland Browns are one of the most interesting teams in the go into the 2025 NFL Draft. Projected with the first overall pick in FPI simulations, they suddenly must face the prospect of moving on from the quarterback they once viewed as their franchise pillar. This opens up an exciting potential of a down season and underachieving performance from their existing roster.
If the Browns decide to draft quarterback, they should have a number of strong candidates to select from. One future top five prospect immediately stands out – it’s Arch Manning. He’s got a prototypical NFL QB build and has demonstrated elite accuracy at all levels of the field. As a result of his unique skill set, he stands to be the best candidate to help guide the Browns into a new era.
Further down the lineup, Garrett Nussmeier is a strong candidate to emerge. He passed for more than 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns last year at LSU. This extraordinary performance underscores his resilience under pressure and drive to produce results. These two very different quarterbacks could prove to be immensely important in determining how the Browns proceed as they try and save their franchise.
College Stars Making Their Mark
A few other college football players are doing great things this season, catching the eyes of NFL scouts. Klubnik has proven himself to be a mechanically proficient and accurate QB. He led the nation with an astounding 43 total touchdowns in his breakout 2024 campaign. His performance has further locked in his status as the most sought-after prospect.
Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson have pretty much created one of the best QB/WR tandems in CFB this season. Their chemistry on the field is ridiculously productive. As draft day draws near, NFL teams will surely be glued to this explosive duo.
Isaiah World has nearly finished his transition to Oregon after spending four years at Nevada. This decision drops a pretty interesting wrench into the draft landscape. Playing both right and left tackle during his college career, he brings versatility and experience that could appeal to teams in search of offensive line depth.
Team Strategies and Needs
As each team gets ready for their next draft, different philosophies are at work. The Kansas City Chiefs are figuring out smart contract deals for their new offensive linemen, Jawaan Taylor and Jaylon Moore. Like MLB contemplates, they would make expansion decisions following the 2025 season. It would open opportunities for younger players to take those spots. This opportunity is only created if the Chiefs decide to go that route.
Cincinnati Bengals to anyone who didn’t pay attention last fall and are legitimately shocked. They’re looking to rebound from the worst offensive performance a year ago. With the league’s worst pass block win rate (50.1%) by a wide margin, turning around their offensive line performance is step number one for them this offseason. That urgency might push them to prioritize the best opportunities. One of the most interesting to watch will be OL Jude Bowry, who has dominated at both tackle spots and is viewed by some scouts as a future NFL guard.
At the same time, the New Orleans Saints are expected to be very aggressive on Day 1 of the draft. They could be motivated to move up in the draft. That means two of the more promising quarterbacks available could be off the board by the time they make their pick.
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