ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears insisted that the Cleveland Browns should select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter over Colorado receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in Thursday’s first round of the 2025 NFL draft, essentially because the Browns are in the same division as quarterback Joe Burrow and the high-powered Cincinnati Bengals offense.

“I love Travis. I think he’s one of the generational guys that we’ve seen in the draft in a long time,” Spears said. “I would put Abdul Carter across the line of scrimmage from Myles Garrett in a New York minute. Listen to why … I think it’s perfect for him. And look, we talked about his prowess against the run game. You don’t necessarily have that issue in Cleveland because he can play a little bit freer. But bro, I’ve got to play Lamar (Jackson) and Joe twice a year. So I get it that we want to get the wide receiver and all of that. But you could score 35 and Joe’s gonna score 50.”

Among players often mocked to the Bengals in recent days are South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, Georgia safety Malaki Starks, Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart, Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen, Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr., Marshall edge Mike Green and Georgia edge Mykel Williams.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Marcus Spears: Browns need Abdul Carter; Bengals have Joe Burrow