While the QBs garner everyone's attention, the most important Browns rookie in 2025 will be defensive tackle Mason Graham. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Wait ‘til next year.
It’s the worst phrase a Cleveland sports fan wants to hear.
But when it comes to the Browns, at least they have a plan for next year.
While everything appears to revolve around the quarterback position in 2025 after the addition of four new passers, this is only the opening act. Just wait until 2026, when the Browns own two picks in the first round. The draft-day trade of Travis Hunter to Jacksonville will make more sense then.
Imagine a legit first-round quarterback joining the fray next year. A bona fide franchise quarterback hopeful, not simply a flier from the third round or the fifth round.
That appears to be the Browns’ plan as they dig out of the Deshaun Watson era. Oh, remember him? The newlywed is a fifth wheel in this year’s quarterback room who will count about $36 million on the team’s salary cap year even though he is unlikely to play a single down.
Then there’s still more than $130 million in Watson salary cap charges to account for after that!
The dead cap charges diminish the longer Watson stays on the roster. That’s why the Browns didn’t cut bait on Watson this year, his fourth season with Cleveland. Next year, Watson is due the final $46 million salary installment of his fully-guaranteed five-year contract. At that time, the Browns will decide to eat that cash and divvy up the $130 million in cap charges over the next two years – or prolong the inevitable exit one more season and pay the cap charges through 2028.
Only with Watson’s cap charges totally off the books can the Browns reasonably expect to compete for a division championship.
In any case, the process is underway for the Browns to recover from the seminal transaction of the Haslam family ownership.
“We took a big swing and miss,” Jimmy Haslam said, profoundly, on March 31. “So we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole.”
Lest you think there’s a chance of Watson playing this season, remember the Browns took out a $40 million+ insurance policy on Watson this year. It only pays out if he doesn’t play.
Digging out of the Watson mistake started with restocking the quarterback room with two affordable, veteran “bridge” quarterbacks and two rookies who at worst can serve as future backups.
When Watson’s final cap charges take effect – in 2026 or 2027 -- there simply won’t be salary cap room for a veteran backup. That’s why Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have future roles, no matter how much they play in 2025.
Digging out also entailed injecting young talent from the 2025 draft at various positions to build a new foundation to support the future franchise QB. It’s possible that four rookies – maybe five -- will hold prominent roles in 2025.
The development of those five non-quarterbacks quite probably is more important in 2025 than the development of the two rookie quarterbacks.
Had the Watson transaction worked, the Browns might have reached their first Super Bowl before the Brook Park covered stadium project is completed in 2029. As it is, there is still time for a new QB to take charge through the 2026-28 seasons.
But that’s next year’s storyline. The true essence of this 2025 season centers on rejuvenating the defense and running game, and resetting the psyche of the team, organization and fan base.
While expectations for the Browns in 2025 are low nationally, the season is an important one to set up the real launching of a new quarterback era next year.
With that in mind, we list the 20 most important Browns players for the coming season.
1. DE Myles Garrett
If there is a new Super Bowl “window,” it coincides with Garrett’s age and the rookie contract of the future franchise QB. Garrett turns 30 in December. He should be in his prime through the next three years, which was a large reason the Browns refused to trade him for draft assets. Garrett should be amply motivated after swallowing his trade request for a bag of $123 million in guarantees. He’s been challenged by Haslam and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to reach a higher level as a player and leader. If he does, he can win back the love of the fan base offended by his trade request.
2. DT Mason Graham
If he is as good as the Browns suspect, Schwartz finally will have the elite interior pass rusher to groom into a Pro Bowl player. If all goes right, Graham could be a rookie defensive player-of-the-year candidate and help Garrett to another NFL DPOY award.
3. CB Denzel Ward
If Ward could hang on to half the interceptions that slip through his hands he would finally earn the league-wide recognition he deserves. More importantly, the added turnovers would lift the defense to another level. In any case, Ward is indispensable. When he’s not on the field, the secondary is merely average.
4. LT Dawand Jones
This giant of a man has a giant opportunity to cash in on his second contract. If he can a.) stay healthy and b.) prove to be a legit starting left tackle, Jones not only will make a lot of money but also become the behemoth blind-side protector of the next franchise QB. At worst, he moves back to right tackle next year.
5. QB Joe Flacco
He’s the epitome of “the adult in the room” at the QB position. Flacco would not only stabilize the offense but also operate Kevin Stefanski’s system at its highest level because of his deft ability to execute the play-action passing game. Still one of the league’s top 10 passers of the ball at age 40, I would name him the starter as soon as possible to get everybody on the same page.
6. WR Jerry Jeudy
He broke the franchise record with 90 receptions last year playing with four quarterbacks. Yes, he has to prove that was no fluke. But imagine what Jeudy can do with Flacco hurling thunderbolts at him.
7. PK Dustin Hopkins
One great year followed by one terrible year. This is it for him. He can be the difference in a lot of games, or be cast to the kicker junkyard.
8. RB Dylan Sampson
I originally had Quinshon Judkins in this spot, but Judkins’ arrest on July 12 on charges of domestic battery changed everything. Although Sampson wasn’t drafted until the fourth round, the truth is the Browns would have been satisfied with him as their only running back from the draft in April. What was a luxury “value” pick now seems like a decent fallback in the likely event Judkins faces an NFL suspension.
9. LB Carson Schwesinger
If he follows up his one great season at UCLA, he will be an instant foundation player in the middle of Schwartz’s defense. The fact coaches already trust Schwesinger with relaying the defensive calls in the huddle points to the respect and confidence they have in him.
10. TE Harold Fannin Jr.
The opportunity exists for the Bowling Green star to be the most productive TE2 in Stefanski’s six seasons as coach. Some draftniks compared him to another Mid-American Conference tight end, Antonio Gates, who’s being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August.
11. WR Cedric Tillman
Like others, he came alive in 2023 with Flacco at the helm. If Tillman can stay healthy, he might become the first drafted receiver in the Andrew Berry era to earn a second contract.
12. and 13. SS Grant Delpit and FS Ronnie Hickman
Another missing element in the Schwartz defense has been a pair of play-making safeties – the in-box safety stopping runs on third-and-2 and jarring balls loose in the open field, and the free safety running down INTs. It’s time for Delpit and Hickman to fill those roles.
14. DE Alex Wright
In the last year of his rookie contract, Wright has the chance to earn a big second contract with the Browns or in free agency. He showed promise until a torn triceps injury last year. He may rotate with third-year end Isaiah McGuire.
15. TE David Njoku
So enticing an athlete, yet such an enigma. A full year with Flacco should net Njoku his first 1,000-yard season and a lucrative third contract with the Browns. I would hold off on an extension, however, until midway through the season.
16. RT Jack Conklin
Conklin accepted a pay cut to seek free agency in 2026. A healthy year for him would enable Jones to develop at left tackle and set up Conklin as a sought-after tackle in the open market.
17. QB Dillon Gabriel
It says here that Gabriel will win the undercard QB competition and establish himself as the future backup and occasional spot starter. His only limitation is his height. We’ll find out in preseason if he can overcome it.
18. WR Diontae Johnson
The best-case scenario is he uses this opportunity to reboot his career as a good, dependable WR2. At worst, he’s cut and replaced by a waiver or trade pickup.
19. RB Quinshon Judkins
I wouldn’t write him off completely in 2025. The second-round pick from Ohio State could emerge as a key player in the second half of the season following an inevitable NFL suspension. If Judkins shows remorse and learns from his shocking domestic dispute, he could salvage his rookie season. Or it can be wasted. Totally up to him. He’s ineligible to practice until he’s under contract.
20. OG Zak Zinter
With starters Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller each in the final year of his contract, Zinter must develop into a starter for the 2026 season. Look for the coaches to incorporate him as a sixth lineman on short-yardage and goal-line plays. It’s imperative he handles those opportunities and stays healthy – just in case.