In his latest mock draft published on Wednesday, ESPN’s Field Yates predicted that the Cleveland Browns would take Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter with the second pick of the 2025 NFL Draft and then grab Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough at overall selection No. 33.
For an article posted on Thursday, analyst Ben Solak of ESPN explained why the Browns could realistically have Shough compete with former Pittsburgh Steelers flop Kenny Pickett and a currently unsigned veteran such as Joe Flacco for the starting job this summer.
“Shough is 25 years old and will turn 26 in September,” Solak wrote. “…He’s a lot more interesting to me than Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Shough has a big body and a legit NFL arm with great downfield touch. While his pocket management is as panicked as you’d expect from a quarterback with three straight season-ending injuries, he has a nice throw on the move when he extends plays. It’s not hard to find some Jared Goff in his game.”
Some previously linked the Browns with quarterback Joe Milton III, but that was before it was reported on Thursday that the New England Patriots had agreed to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys.
Meanwhile, multiple reports surfaced during the NFL owners meetings suggesting the Browns likely aren’t trading for Atlanta Falcons wantaway signal-caller Kirk Cousins anytime soon. Cousins may not want to go to Cleveland in part because the club plans to give Pickett a chance to earn the Week 1 QB1 gig from the start of springtime workouts through the final preseason game in August.
Prospects such as Dart and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe probably need to spend at least some of the 2025 season learning as backups for a proven commodity. Solak hinted that won’t necessarily be the case regarding Shough’s development.
“Shough is the trust-the-film quarterback because that’s exactly what you’re betting on: Despite his injury history and age, the quality of play is good enough that he’ll be a starter available for a discount contract,” Solak continued. “A healthy Shough can play right now, too. Other intriguing midround quarterbacks, such as Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, are a year or two away.”
Before Kevin Stefanski became a two-time NFL Coach of the Year Award winner, he worked wonders with Cousins while serving as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. Perhaps Stefanski believes he can get the best out of both Pickett and Shough over the next handful of months.
