CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns find themselves at a crossroads with the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Do they select a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders, potentially securing their franchise’s future? Or do they opt for the tantalizing two-way talent of Colorado’s Travis Hunter, whose stock has skyrocketed after an impressive Pro Day?

On the latest Orange and Brown Talk podcast, the answer from cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot was crystal clear: “Well, surprise, surprise, I’m sticking with the quarterback at No. 2 overall.”

The debate intensified following Colorado’s Pro Day, where Travis Hunter dazzled scouts with his two-way abilities at both cornerback and wide receiver. Yet despite Hunter’s undeniable talent, the Browns’ most pressing need remains at quarterback – where Kenny Pickett currently sits atop the depth chart after Deshaun Watson’s disastrous tenure.

If you need a quarterback, take Shedeur. If you don’t, take Travis, said former Browns coach Pat Shurmur, according to a quote referenced on the podcast – a simple yet profound assessment of Cleveland’s situation.

The podcast panel’s consensus was unmistakable: when you have the opportunity to select one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, you take it, especially when your team desperately needs one.

“Nothing has changed,” said Ashley Bastock on the podcast. “I still think them finding a quarterback is the most important thing. And if Travis Hunter doesn’t have anybody to throw him the ball, he’s not going to be that same kind of game changer anyway, immediately.”

What makes this decision particularly pressing is the growing buzz around the draft’s second-tier quarterbacks. Jackson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough have seen their stocks rise, with some mock drafts placing them in the first round. This creates a risky proposition for the Browns if they pass on Sanders at two with hopes of trading up later for another quarterback.

“These quarterbacks are at a premium and teams will just trade right up over you if they think that you’re going to take a guy somewhere or they’ll scramble to get him before they think you can trade into a spot to get him,” Cabot explained. “It would be really difficult, I think, to put your eggs in the basket of a Milroe or a Shough or someone like that later.”

Dan Labbe added: “When you start playing in that second tier… I don’t know what Jalen Milro is going to be at the next level. I have no clue. So, to me, you’re taking even more of a chance at quarterback than you are just taking a guy at No. 2.”

Ultimately, the Browns’ decision may come down to their evaluation of Sanders. If they believe he can be their franchise quarterback, the choice becomes obvious despite Hunter’s allure.

“I would much rather whiff on the quarterback than take a sure thing at a non-quarterback position when you really need a quarterback,” Cabot emphasized. “I would much rather swing and miss again then go with what seems to be a sure thing at another position.”

For Browns fans who’ve endured decades of quarterback struggles, the answer feels obvious: take the quarterback and don’t look back. As Shedeur Sanders himself put it: “You’d be a fool not to take me and you’re going to be lucky to have me if you do.”

The full discussion on this draft dilemma is available now on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast, where the team explores every angle of this critical decision facing Andrew Berry and the Browns front office.

Here’s the podcast for this week:

If the player above doesn’t work, you can listen to this week’s podcast on Spotify or on Apple podcasts.