While speaking at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski discussed the traits he is looking for in a quarterback ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Citing the importance of strong decision-making, accuracy, and processing, Stefanski detailed what he was looking for in his next quarterback.
Kevin Stefanski’s Essential QB Traits
The Browns are widely expected to consider a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft in April. Their 2024 starter Deshaun Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon mid-season before then suffering a setback to the same tendon while rehabbing the original injury.
Stefanski outlined how there were three traits essential to a good quarterback in the NFL, which was posted on the Browns’ official X profile.
Decision-making, accuracy, and processing are key traits to look for in a QB#DawgPound | #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/zw7ubj9p59
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 26, 2025
“Decision-making, obviously, is very high on the list. Whether it’s one, two, three. Accuracy being very important as well. Decision-making, and we just talked about it, processing,” Stefanski said.
“I think every single play as a quarterback, you’re doing something, whether it’s a run check or it’s a motion, a decision that you are making based on a safety’s depth, all those type of things factor in to decision-making.”
Cleveland Browns’ 2025 NFL Draft Projection
The Browns have been looking for adequate quarterback play for the better part of the past decade. In PFSN’s latest 7-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Browns selected Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders No. 2 overall.
“While the Cleveland Browns may not be the most desirable landing spot for off-field elements for Shedeur Sanders, it is far from a bad situation for the Colorado quarterback. The Browns have a lot of pieces in place around Sanders and were really only held back by the quarterback play in 2024,” Ben Rolfe wrote.
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“Sanders is a promising NFL prospect. He is a pocket passer with enough mobility to make him effective. There are concerns about his arm strength, but he mitigates those with his compact release and impressive accuracy. Those mechanics can hide concerns when pressured, which is a concern with the Browns’ offensive line ranking 20th last season.”
While it remains to be seen whether the Browns actually pick Sanders, he has proven at the college level that he is an extremely accurate passer (74.0% completion percentage), has strong processing skills, and can make good decisions before the snap and during the play itself.