Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry is playing his draft cards close to his vest.
The only thing he is saying is the Browns are not in the market for the No. 1 pick even if the Tennessee Titans were looking to move out of the top spot and trade down.
So, when he spoke to the media on Sunday evening at the NFL annual meetings in Florida, Berry went on the record with his perfunctory comment stating the Browns will do anything to better their team.
"We're pretty much open to anything that can be advantageous to us," Berry said.
Yada, Yada, Yada. Like, what else was he supposed to say?
What Berry meant to say was the Browns would do anything except trade up for the top selection. It's not like the Browns need a starting quarterback like Cam Ward, whom the Titans will likely take with the top pick.
There is a big separation between Ward and the second-best quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who some speculate could fall to the bottom third of the first round, if not into the second round.
The Browns hold the second pick and seem to be honing in on Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter with the pick.
The draft apparently goes through Cleveland this year as they control where the big chips are going to fall.
If Ward goes first and the Browns take Carter as planned, Travis Hunter is then in play for the third pick to the New York Giants. Having Hunter opposite last season's No. 6 pick Malik Nabers would be unfair to opposing defenses. Perhaps that is what Russell Wilson was thinking when he jumped at the idea of starting for the Giants.
However, nothing is safe when it comes to the Browns. Cleveland is used to botching their first round draft choices.
The last time they got it right was in 2017 when they drafted Myles Garrett with the top choice and tight end David Njoku with the 29th pick. Jabrill Peppers, a safety from Michigan, was sandwiched in at pick 25 when Cleveland had three selections in the first round.
Since then they have drafted Baker Mayfield, who was a bust in Cleveland, and everywhere else he went aside from Tampa Bay, where he apparently re-discovered himself.
Denzel Ward, Jedrick Wills and Greg Newsome II were all busts, with the possible exception of Denzel Ward, who is a good player, but was over drafted. He was the fourth pick in 2018.
They also ruined two first-round picks on quarterbacks when they took Brandon Weeden in 2012 and Johnny Manziel in 2014. Draft night is always a roll of the dice in Cleveland.
This season will mark the Browns first time selecting in the first round since 2021. They traded the 2022, 2023 and 2024 first round selections to the Houston Texans for quarterback DeShaun Watson, who will miss this season with an injury.
Related: Browns 3-Word Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders Post Sparks Reaction
This is Berry's time to shine. He cannot make the wrong move here. If he wants to stay at No. 2, that's fine. But, don't screw it up. Take Carter and pair him with Garrett for a very formidable defensive line.
Do not overthink it. Browns fans everywhere are hoping Berry makes the right call.
Related: Browns Get Bad News On Top Draft Target Abdul Carter
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This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 8:20 PM.