When the Cleveland Browns traded out of the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the move raised more than a few eyebrows. With two electric prospects still on the board-Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter-Cleveland’s decision to slide down the draft board looked, at the time, like a risky bet. But now, with the regular season winding down and the dust beginning to settle, that gamble is starting to look more like a calculated masterstroke.
Let’s set the scene. Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Titans, leaving the Browns with a choice between Hunter, the rare two-way talent with sky-high upside, and Carter, the explosive edge rusher out of Penn State.
Instead, Cleveland opted to trade back with the Jaguars, picking up a package that included Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder. The Jaguars quickly scooped up Hunter at No. 2, while the Giants pounced on Carter at No.
Cleveland, now sitting at No. 5, used their pick on Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. And while that didn’t make the same headlines as the Hunter or Carter selections, Graham has quietly become one of the more impactful rookies on the defensive side of the ball this season. Through 12 games, he’s logged over 500 snaps and has been trending upward in recent weeks-particularly impressive for a rookie interior lineman adjusting to NFL speed.
Meanwhile, the two players Cleveland passed on have had very different rookie campaigns.
Let’s start with Abdul Carter. The Giants were banking on his pass-rushing prowess to help anchor their defense, but off-field discipline has quickly become a concern.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka benched Carter for the first quarter of Monday night’s matchup against the Patriots, citing a “coach’s decision.” That marked Carter’s second benching in three games, reportedly due to repeated tardiness to team meetings-something that previous head coach Brian Daboll may have let slide, but the new regime isn’t tolerating.
For a player taken third overall and expected to be a cornerstone of the defense, that’s a troubling trend. Talent has never been the issue with Carter-he’s a physical force off the edge-but the NFL demands more than just athleticism.
It demands professionalism, consistency, and buy-in. And right now, Carter’s struggling to check those boxes.
Then there’s Travis Hunter. The Jaguars rolled the dice on his rare versatility, trying to use him both as a cornerback and a wide receiver.
But that experiment was cut short when Hunter suffered a season-ending injury. It’s a brutal break for a player with such a unique skill set, and while his ceiling remains sky-high, the Jaguars will have to wait until next season to see if their investment pays off.
Back in Cleveland, the picture looks a lot clearer. Mason Graham may not be the flashiest name from the 2025 class, but he’s been reliable, disruptive, and exactly what the Browns needed in the trenches.
In a division loaded with physical offensive lines and mobile quarterbacks, having a stout interior presence is more than a luxury-it’s a necessity. Graham’s emergence, paired with the extra draft capital acquired in the trade, has given GM Andrew Berry a bit of breathing room heading into what figures to be a pivotal 2026 offseason.
That’s not to say the Browns are out of the woods. There are still big questions looming about the direction of the franchise, and this front office will be under the microscope in the coming months.
But when it comes to the 2025 draft, the early returns are validating a bold decision. The Browns didn’t just dodge a bullet-they might’ve landed the right player and positioned themselves for long-term success.
In a league where draft-day decisions can haunt a team for years, Cleveland’s move is starting to look like one of the smartest plays of the offseason.