CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are back in the unenviable position of needing to find a quarterback. They do have the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a draft that is largely seen as a two-quarterback draft.

Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are the consensus top two quarterbacks available in this class, and the Browns are guaranteed a shot to pick at least one of them at the draft if they wish.

Drafting a quarterback is a different science than drafting any other player, which is a science in and of itself.

There is also a lot of risk in trying to find one because drafting a bust can set your team back a couple of years. It’s natural for fans to be worried about the possibility of missing on a quarterback, especially in Cleveland considering how much trouble the Browns have had trying to find their guy.

But as we get closer to the draft, it’s time to discuss three myths about selecting a quarterback, particularly early in drafts.

1. There’s too much risk in drafting a quarterback early

The quarterback is clearly the most important position in the NFL, and you’re not going to have long-term success unless you have a great one in place. Getting the wrong one is the worst thing that can happen to a franchise.

But that doesn’t change the level of risk involved with drafting a quarterback early.

There is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL. Even “safe” prospects aren’t safe, and there is some level of risk with every single player you draft.

Any idea of inherent risk comes from taking a QB who may not be rated close to where he was selected.

Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are perfect examples. Both picks were panned at the time because neither QB was considered a first-round pick.

Fast-forward a year and Nix led the Broncos to a surprising playoff berth, and Penix looked very good in his opportunities late in the season.

That doesn’t mean to force the quarterback pick early if it’s not there. But if there’s one you deem worthy of the pick, take the swing.

The chances of finding a great quarterback diminish as you go deeper into the draft, so getting one early is the best bet.

2. It’s better to just wait a year in case the class is better

This is a common statement you’ll hear from time to time about why you feel like your team shouldn’t draft a quarterback. It’s more present in this draft cycle because this year’s QB class isn’t as deep as what is expected to be available in 2026.

But there are two problems with that statement.

First, there’s no guarantee you’ll be in a position to get a quarterback early in the draft next year. Teams with those early picks in need of quarterbacks simply don’t trade out of them even for the most exorbitant packages.

Second, there is also no guarantee that the 2026 QB class will still be seen in the same regard as it is now.

Texas’ Arch Manning has made just two starts, and even if he plays well in 2025, it’s unclear that he will even enter the 2026 NFL Draft.

Penn State’s Drew Allar might not take the leap we expect in 2025, and there is a chance Clemson’s Cade Klubnik or South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers won’t be able to follow up great 2024 seasons.

Even if we take it back a year when projecting ahead to this cycle, Shedeur Sanders and Georgia’s Carson Beck were seen as the consensus top two. Beck took a big step back and, due in part to injury, isn’t even in this year’s draft. Other quarterbacks like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Texas’ Quinn Ewers didn’t make the jump that they needed to in order to justify first-round status.

Cam Ward was the only quarterback besides Sanders who did.

So there’s no guarantee of what a quarterback class the following year looks like. All you can evaluate honestly is the class that’s available right now.

3. Physical tools are the most important thing

Who doesn’t love the long ball or blazing speed?

I think this is a big trap we fall into when looking at quarterbacks, and we are all guilty of it. When you start watching film on a guy, you don’t always look for the mental aspects of playing the position or when a guy is going in his progressions. You’re looking for the athletic tools, such as how big he is, how strong the arm is and how mobile he is.

But playing quarterback at a high level in the NFL is so much more than just physical traits. Guys like Jamarcus Russell and Paxton Lynch among others came into the NFL with elite physical tools and didn’t pan out. Trey Lance and Anthony Richardson were drafted early in part because of their physical tools, but while it’s too early to completely write them off, they haven’t lived up to their draft status.

That’s why the mental aspect of the position needs to be weighed as much if not more than the physical traits.

It’s easy to forget that while Joe Burrow was the clear-cut first pick in 2020, there were concerns about him having smaller hands and not having elite arm strength. But his elite football IQ was what has helped him make up for those perceived deficiencies more often than not.

So remember when you evaluate quarterbacks, don’t just look at what they can do physically. Look deeper into the decision making, how they read defenses and the other intangibles. Those matter as much as anything, if not more.