Schefter Says Browns 'Have Visions of Matching Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett'

The Cleveland Browns will have the chance to add a franchise quarterback with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but they reportedly could be more intrigued by the chance to create a dangerous pass-rushing tandem.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday's episode of Get Up that the Browns are eyeing Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to pair him with 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

"Well, Cleveland does need to take a quarterback, but it certainly feels like they have visions of matching Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett and unleashing that tandem against the rest of that division, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson and the rest of that division, whoever plays quarterback in Pittsburgh, maybe Aaron Rodgers," Schefter said.

The Browns traded for backup quarterback Kenny Pickett earlier this offseason, and Deshaun Watson is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season after re-rupturing his Achilles. Despite being in a tough quarterback situation, Carter could be too talented for Cleveland to pass up.

The decision by the Browns could reshape the rest of the draft, as the New York Giants would also be left with the crucial decision of choosing between a quarterback and a top prospect like Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. Still, Schefter noted that Cleveland appears to be leaning toward waiting until after the first round to address the quarterback position.

"I think that they recognize that Abdul Carter is an elite talent, and Travis Hunter is an elite talent, and that's the decision to get back to them that the Giants have to make, do they view Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter in that category, and do they have a high enough grade on Shedeur Sanders that they could justify taking Sanders ahead of one of these higher rated players? And right now, it doesn't feel like Cleveland's moving in that direction," Schefter said.

The Athletic's Jason Lloyd also reported that the Browns are considering Hunter with the No. 2 pick, stating that he "heard and saw enough these last few days to believe the Browns genuinely like" the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. Browns general manager Eric Berry said this past weekend that he believes Hunter can play both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL and described him as "brilliant from a football standpoint, has a rare intelligence."

"If I had to fill out a mock draft today, Hunter would likely be the name I wrote on the line," Lloyd wrote.

If the Browns select Carter or Hunter in the first round, ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi explained that the team will consider Day 2 quarterback options like Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Louisville's Tyler Shough.

Schefter added that Cleveland has shown significant interest in Carter with a pair of recent meetings, so all signs point to him being the team's choice at No. 2.

"We go back to Thursday night, the night before the Penn State Pro Day, Cleveland ownership flew to State College, Pennsylvania, to meet with Abdul Carter for a second time," Schefter said. "As [Mel Kiper] would know, there aren't many times where owners are meeting with an individual prospect twice within recent weeks. That tells you how serious Cleveland is about taking Abdul Carter at the second overall pick here."