The Cleveland Browns Can't Get it Right

In the 2025 Draft, there were three generational talents:

• Cam Ward (Miami) - Described as a can't miss starter at football's most important position.

• Aston Jeanty (Boise State) - Described as the best running back in a decade.

• Travis Hunter (Colorado) - Described as the best two-way NFL talent since Deion Sanders in the 1990's.

The Cleveland Browns had the # 2 pick. It was going to be hard for them to screw it up.

But they did.

Now in their defense, Ward was gone. So with the # 2 pick, they chose.... to trade it for an extra pick NEXT YEAR. With their new slot at # 5, they chose Michigan Defensive Tackle Mason Graham. Graham averaged 3 sacks a year at his position. In the biggest game for Michigan in 2024, Graham had ZERO SACKS, ZERO TURNOVERS, ZERO TACKLES FOR LOSS in their upset win of Ohio State.

Now don't get me wrong, Mason Graham is a nice end-of-first round talent.

Where did the USA TODAY see him going?13th

Where did Yahoo! Sports see him going? 11th

Where did CBS Sports see him going? 13th

Let's delve a little deeper in that CBS Sports Rating:

"He isn't a big player for the position, but he is technically sound."

The Browns had the number 2 pick in the draft and picked someone "technically sound?"

At draft position 2, you either pick a DT that's an oversized monster, or someone with a pile of sacks. Graham is neither. Another draft analysis praised his "motor."

Now you're arguing I'm just an idiot blogger? I will listen to that argument.

The best, living sportswriter in Cleveland is cleveland.com's Terry Pluto. Here's his quote on the trade: "I had my football heart set on Travis Hunter. That’s why it’s hard for me not to hate this trade sending the Colorado star to Jacksonville.....but right now, from a very emotional standpoint, it’s hard to accept."

The number one comment on Facebook on Pluto's article? "It was a good trade. We have too many holes to fill." Uh, the best way to fill multiple holes on a team is with a player who plays multiple positions....I mean, right?

Okay, let's make a deal.

If Ward, Jeanty, and Hunter are all pro-bowlers, and Mason Graham is simply serviceable. We get to burn down Browns Stadium. (Just teasing, they're gonna tear it down in a few years anyhow). We finally get to fire overrated GM Andrew Berry.

If Ward, Jeanty, and Hunter are all overrated and Mason Graham is a pro-bowler, I will buy my Father-in-Law dinner. He liked the pick.

My friend from college, Mark, was at the stadium when the Browns made the pick. He said the crowd booed and many fans walked out. Again, Andrew Berry overthought it, thinking he's smarter than everyone else.

He's not.

We're going to put this article in the vault. I'm not even sure Mason Graham is better than OSU's Tyleik Williams who was drafted at # 28 by the Detroit Lions.

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Shedeur Sanders is NOT a generational talent. He was mostly hype.

Part of me is glad he fell into the second round. Sanders' ceiling in the NFL is Kordell Stewart. Yes, I chose the Stewart Analogy for a reason.