Here is what we know coming out of the 2025 NFL draft: No one knows. We don’t know how individual players will play, fit together or be graded after three or four seasons (when NFL draft grades really matter). We know as much about the impact of the Cleveland Browns seven-person 2025 NFL draft class as we do about making a 2026 Browns mock draft.

While NFL draft grades are basically pointless, they do help create an indicator of what others are seeing after a team puts together its group. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has been the NFL draft guy for so long that his opinion holds weight for a variety of reasons.

The Browns received Kiper’s top grade (subscriber, $) for the 2025 NFL draft:

But the Browns also added a lot of draft capital here, including a 2026 first-rounder. This is a massive part of why they earned my top grade. Jacksonville isn’t exactly a playoff lock, so that could be a high pick next April.

The other main reason I gave the Browns an A+ shouldn’t be a surprise. They got quarterback Shedeur Sanders at No. 144 to finish their seven-pick draft. He was my No. 5 overall prospect in the class and clear QB1. He brings excellent accuracy, completing 74% of his throws last season. He brings toughness in the pocket. I think he will be an outstanding pro QB, and I believe we will look back on this pick in a few years and question what the rest of the NFL was doing.

Like everyone else who does draft grades, Kiper’s is based almost entirely on how he had players ranked before the start of the NFL draft. Much like we did with the reordering of Cleveland’s draft class based on the Consensus Big Board, if you graded a player highly before the draft, as Kiper did with Sanders, you will love what they did.

What do you think of Kiper’s grade for the Browns? Do the ESPN draft guru’s thoughts get extra respect for you, given his history?

Share your draft grade thoughts in our comment section below