In just one week, Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry could make the Browns' pick at No. 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cleveland has a total of 10 picks throughout the draft, which provides a chance to add young talent to the roster at multiple positions. As it currently sits, outside of the No. 2 pick, they also hold No. 33 in Round 2 and Nos. 67 and 94 in Round 3. On the third day of the draft, they hold a total of six picks between Rounds 4-7.
"We're pretty pumped as we go into next week," Berry said.
Here are the main takeaways from Berry's pre-draft press conference ahead of the draft.
Creation of the draft strategy
Throughout the week before and the week leading into the draft, Berry said he and his staff use the time for scenario planning and strategy planning. They have completed all their private workouts, and have the information from their scouts, as well as the combine, pro days and top 30 visits to use to develop their plans for the draft. Berry said while there have been some alternations to their draft board based on medical, mental and character fit, at this stage in the process, their board does not see much change outside of small tweaks as they create their strategy.
"That's not to say that there hasn't been any thought of it at this point," Berry said. "That would be disingenuous. But we'll use the whole shot clock, so to speak. We don't have to start making decisions until really Thursday night, so we'll use all the time afforded to us and make sure that we have a thorough plan depending on what happens at number one."
The Browns have made a handful of moves in free agency, adding players like QB Joe Flacco, LB Jerome Baker WR DeAndre Carter, G Teven Jenkins, DE Julian Okwara, DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and OT Cornelius Lucas. They also acquired QB Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Eagles. They also re-signed LB Devin Bush, CB Tony Brown II, TE Blake Whiteheart and LB Winston Reid.
Yet, while Berry said there is some interplay between free agency and the draft– as it could influence the level of investment in a certain position when it comes to the draft – their overarching goal is to add players to the roster who they believe can be high-quality, long-term contributors.
"You can't necessarily dictate the draft," Berry said. "Although certainly you have more influence when you're picking as high as we are this year, but we're really just looking to add good players."
Outlook on No. 2 pick
The Browns have multiple options for the No. 2 overall pick. If the Titans choose QB Cam Ward, they have options such as Penn State edge Abdul Carter, WR/CB Travis Hunter and QB Sheduer Sanders who have been projected as top picks in the draft class. They could also use the pick as an asset and move around the draft, or even trade for a veteran player.
Berry reiterated that all options are on the board. They want to maximize the impact on the team with the pick in any form that may take.
"We have not made a hard decision in terms of how we're going to utilize the No. 2 pick. There are a number of guys that we like," Berry said. "I think the biggest thing for us is we want to have long term players across the roster. We're not going to necessarily force something if we don't think the value's right or anything along those lines. But we want to be thoughtful and disciplined in our decision making."
As they consider their options at No. 2, Berry clarified the Browns medical staff is not concerned about health concerns with Carter, who has been recovering from a stress reaction in his foot, as well as a shoulder injury he suffered during the 2024 season.
In terms of Hunter, Berry said he brings a rare quality in his ball skills. As they have considered him as a prospect, and which side of the ball he would play on, Berry added they would want to put him in a position that maximizes his ball skills.
"What he would attempt to do has not been really done in our league, but we wouldn't necessarily put a cap or a governor in terms of what he could do," Berry said. "We would want to be smart in terms of how we started him out. I think I've mentioned before, we would see his first home as receiver and his second home on the defensive side of the ball."
Vision for the quarterback room
While much of the discourse of the offseason centered around the Browns selecting a quarterback in the draft, the Browns also added two veteran quarterbacks to the roster during the offseason with Flacco and Pickett.
The additions of Flacco and Pickett, however, are not influencing the potential of adding a rookie quarterback.
"We wouldn't consider signing Joe as having any real impact in terms of how we would view taking a quarterback in the draft," Berry said. "We firmly believe that it's not about picking a player who's ready to contribute now. It's about trying to find the player that you think is going to be the best."
Berry said as they evaluate quarterback prospects, they look at those classes two years at a time so they can evaluate growth, steps backward or the emersion of a new player. He added their mindset around taking a rookie quarterback isn't about immediacy but making the best long-term decision for the franchise.
Outside of Sanders, other quarterbacks have been discussed as potential fits for the Browns in other rounds in the draft – prospects like Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough.
"Jalen, he's got rare physical talent, Berry said. "He may be the only quarterback when he gets in the NFL, who's faster than Lamar (Jackson). He's got rare physical gifts. He's strong, he's fast, he's got a really strong arm. And any system that you build around him, you want to take advantage of the fact that he has things that no other players at the position have. Jaxson, he's very well rounded. He can run it, he can throw it, he's accurate. He's a good decision maker. I'd say he's pretty scheme versatile, so to speak. So, I think both of those guys in the proper situation can be really good NFL players."
No matter how the room shapes out, Berry said all the quarterbacks who are on the roster will have the opportunity to compete during the spring and through training camp for the starting job for the 2025 season.
"In terms of Joe versus Kenny, Joe can fit a number of different spots in the room," Berry said. "We obviously know him well. He's an excellent play action passer. He functions in our system. With Kenny – younger guy, mobile, very smart, protects the ball. I think there's more physical ability in him. A guy we did a lot of work on in that draft process and obviously saw him twice a year when he was in Pittsburgh. And so, we think there's more to get out of him there."
