The Cleveland Browns are expected to add a quarterback at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft, though the various mock draft predictors out there have gone back and forth with regard to where exactly is the best spot for them to take that plunge.
Mel Kiper Jr. believes that the Browns could eschew a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, instead choosing to pick Colorado star Travis Hunter. The quarterback they ended up selecting in this exercise came way out of left field.
Kiper has the Browns using the No. 33 pick in the Draft on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. Based on where scouting reports have him positioned, Shough going this early would be both a massive surprise and a repeat of one of Cleveland's biggest mistakes.
If anyone knows the risks involved with taking an older quarterback, it's the Browns. After famously using a first-round pick on Brandon Weeden, who was 29 during his rookie season and took advantage of being 10 years older than his college competition, picking Shough that high could be catastrophic.
Browns projected to pick Louisville QB Tyler Shough in second round of 2025 NFL Draft
Shough's college career started at Oregon and later took him to Texas Tech, though injuries in most of his five prior seasons made it tough for him to sustain any momentum. Shough has a strong arm, the ability to throw off-platform, and all the physical measurements teams are looking for.
However, Shough has played just one full season out of six in his college, and there are reasons to be worried about how much of his play could be explained as the byproduct of a 25-year-old beating up on 19-year-old defenders. His ability to quickly make full-field progressions may be overwhelmed by a lack of mobility.
If the Browns land on Shough in the third round, no one should have a problem with that. However, taking him with the first pick of the second round would mean Cleveland is essentially designating him as a franchise quarterback and expects him to start right away. With this roster, that could be a nightmare.
Shough will be a tough sell for some teams. On one hand, he needs development to get the most out of a limited player profile. However, his age suggests that he should play right away, which may not be the best situation for a player selected on Day 2. The Browns may need to save themselves some headache here.