One Month Out From NFL Draft, Browns GM Andrew Berry Hints At Draft Plans

Less than a month out from the draft, Andrew Berry may have hinted at what his plan might look like at the NFL's Owner's Meetings.

New York Jets v Cleveland Browns / Nick Cammett/GettyImages

Andrew Berry has become a master of saying very little while saying a lot. The Browns GM usually doesn't give much away when he speaks publicly about the team's front office plans. His vagueness requires fans to read between the lines.

That was the case this week when Berry talked about the upcoming NFL draft in Orlando, Fla. during the league's annual owner's meetings.

The Browns hold picks 54, 85, 156, 206 and 243 in next month's draft. With the massive gap between our third and fifth-round pick, Berry and company have to be really strategic in how they handle their picks.

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry speaks during a / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Berry tends to be fairly aggressive both in the offseason and during the draft so a trade from their current first pick a 54th overall could certainly be on the table. After trading away three first round picks to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson though, the draft for Cleveland has changed from an avenue for filling needs to being more flexible and taking the best talent available when its on the clock.

"We don't think of the draft as {addressing} need necessarily," said Berry on Tuesday at the owner's meetings. "We think about it as more like long-term investment in the roster."

Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) reacts after / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

In order to follow through on that strategy it requires taking an aggressive approach to free agency and addressing needs there. This offseason, Cleveland filled their wide receiver need and supplemented their defense with depth additions. By checking some of those boxes, it opens up Cleveland to go in a number of directions during next months draft.

Ultimately, we don't know what Berry and his team are going to do heading into the draft but what we do know is that they are going to keep their eyes peeled for the best player available. Over the last four years Berry has proven that to maximize the selections he has, and with a limited number this year trading out may be less likely.