The 2024 NFL Draft isn’t where the Cleveland Browns plan to do the most damage.
At least that is how team general manager Andrew Berry sees it.
Recently, Berry pulled back the curtains on the Browns’ draft process, and it doesn’t sound like Cleveland will be taking any massive swings on top-end talent with its five picks: No. 54 in the second round, No. 85 in the third round, No. 156 in the fifth round, No. 206 in the sixth round and No. 243 in the seventh round.
“I’d say it’s probably less so because of the gap in picks because we think about it less in terms of, let’s say the aggregate number of picks between our selections and more about, let’s say, the ranges of the draft where you’re getting similar talent, or historically, where you get similar talent,” Berry said of taking a big swing in the draft via Clevelandbrowns.com. “I think I’ve mentioned this before, once you get to that point in the draft, the likelihood that you’re getting a starter or a role player, it flattens pretty significantly and probably a lot earlier than people maybe externally realize. So that’s not really, to be honest, that’s not really a huge consideration for me.”
Berry isn’t viewing the draft as the primary means of Cleveland improving.
The Browns did that through free agency.
However, what will define Cleveland’s success in 2024 is health. If the Browns can’t stay healthy, a deep run in the playoffs looks impossible.
But with star running back Nick Chubb returning and the addition of Jerry Jeudy, the Browns may be just fine.