Over the past two NFL drafts, the Cleveland Browns have deviated from the traditional approach of using…
Over the past two NFL drafts, the Cleveland Browns have deviated from the traditional approach of using first-round picks. The team’s general manager, Andrew Berry, has primarily focused on drafting for need only once during his tenure, which was in the 2020 draft when they required a tackle and chose Jedrick Wills Jr. at No. 10 overall.
In the subsequent years, particularly in the last two drafts, the Browns have tackled their roster needs by adopting a more proactive approach in free agency and the trade market. The absence of a first-round pick, resulting from the Deshaun Watson trade, and the decision to trade down from the second round in the past two years have influenced this strategy. This approach is logical given the lower probability of finding starting-caliber talent in later rounds, making it essential for the team to be assertive in acquiring players through other means.
