No audible gasps. No strings of vulgarities. No throwing anything at the TV.
Sure, there were quibbles and nitpicks with how the Browns handled the NFL Draft over the weekend, but the wailing so familiar in late April was noticeably absent. It was replaced by cheers and widespread praise.
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General manager Andrew Berry had a plan and followed it. The team had obvious needs, and he addressed them early and often. He focused on the offense as he should have — eight of the 10 picks — but also added a pair of athletic defenders who have the chance to make immediate impacts on defense and special teams.
Berry’s first five drafts were full of misses. He was at a distinct disadvantage for three of those after giving up five picks in the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade, including three first-rounders.
He returned to the first round in 2025 and had easily his best draft. Loaded with picks again this year, he’s got a streak going.
Berry attributes the improvement to better resources — more picks and higher picks. That can’t be the only reason.
He’s learned from mistakes, remained flexible and continues to use trades to his advantage.
FALLING THEIR WAY
The Browns have been neither lucky nor good throughout their 27-year reincarnation.
They were both over the weekend.
The breaks began early.
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Utah tackle Spencer Fano was their target at the top of the draft. They got him at No. 9 after trading down from No. 6 and adding third- and fifth-round picks from the Chiefs. If they hadn’t made the trade, they would’ve taken Fano at No. 6.
He had to be there in the first place. The Cardinals bypassed the top lineman for a running back at No. 3. Some analysts love the pick of Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, I think it’s a waste and terrible value.
Once Fano made it to No. 6, Berry was right in believing he’d be around three picks later.
The Browns benefited again when Washington receiver Denzel Boston made it to No. 39 in the second round to pair with Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion, who was the pick at No. 24. The break that stunned Berry was Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren falling deep into the second round. Berry went against character and traded up to No. 58 to secure him.
“He wasn’t someone that we anticipated being there as late as he was,” Berry said. “So when he got within striking distance, we felt the move was appropriate. To be truthful, he was in play for us at 39.”
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The draft is about intel and adjusting. Discipline and patience are required to wait for a player to fall to you. Aggression is just as important in the right situation. When you see a chance, take it.
Berry, a trading machine, maneuvered up, down and all around with six deals. He added a pick in 2026 and two fourth-rounders in 2027 — a boon to all those who can’t get enough of future assets.
The Browns also benefited, and capitalized, on the draft class matching their needs. Tackles and receivers were in abundance, especially in the top 40. Berry didn’t have to put need above everything else. He simply took the best players available at premium positions, and they addressed the top needs.
“There’s a mix of skill and luck and I think some of this is coming together this year in terms of how the picks have played out and we’ve just been able to acquire some really good players at every spot so far,” assistant general manager/vice president of football operations Catherine Hickman said during Day 2.
COACHING POINTS
The roster priorities were obvious following the five-win 2025 season. That didn’t necessarily mean Berry would recognize them and be able to address them.
He did, with the influence of new coach Todd Monken.
Berry knew the offense was a disaster before he interviewed Monken. In the news conference the day after the season — with Kevin Stefanski fired — Berry was clear the offense would receive the bulk of the resources in the offseason.
Monken wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We were honest with where we were in our roster’s lifecycle and said, ‘Hey, look, here’s how we’ve positioned ourselves going into this year and here’s how we generally anticipate deploying the assets,’” Berry said. “I think to accept a job this big as a head coach in the NFL, when you’re walking into a team in transition, you have to have visibility in terms of what that’ll look like moving forward.”
Monken, who’s going to run the offense and call the plays, is refreshingly blunt. He made it clear over the weekend how much work was required to improve the line and receiving corps.
He doesn’t budge when it comes to what he needs, but his system is flexible.
“He will have two tight ends on the field, three tight ends on the field, four receivers, different packages, run the quarterback, feed the guy who’s having a great game,” assistant GM/vice president of player personnel Glenn Cook said. “Todd is so diverse in his approach and so open-minded when it comes to how to move the football down the field and score points. From a 30,000-foot view, it just opened up our opportunity across all the players in the draft because you just know you’re not necessarily pigeonholed into, it has to be X skill set, X build, X makeup. It’s really like, ‘Hey, have a good idea of how we want to use this guy and Todd will take it from there.’”
THE QB QUESTION
As good as the draft appears, the potential must turn into production.
Fano needs to prove he can move to the left side and survive on an island. Concepcion has to eliminate the concentration drops. He and Boston need to hit the ground running to lift the receiving corps.
Even if all that happens, one giant issue still looms over the franchise. Do the Browns have a quarterback who can win in 2026 and beyond?
If the completely remade line is as significant an improvement as believed, and the young receivers bring the desired explosion, the supporting cast can’t be blamed. The quarterback will have what he needs, including Monken directing the operation, to succeed.
That raises the stakes. It also allows for a much more accurate evaluation of the quarterback. That’s especially true for Shedeur Sanders in Year 2.
It also raises questions about how Berry handled the quarterback room this offseason, but that’s an analysis for a different day.
The only move he made came Saturday at the top of the sixth round with Arkansas’ Taylen Green. The chances of him starting this season are remote, but if you’re going to draft a quarterback in the sixth round, get one who’s 6-foot-6, 227 pounds, runs a 4.36 40, jumps 43½ inches and throws with ease.
Green missed too many passes (61 percent completions in 2025) and committed too many turnovers (37 in the last two years) to feel comfortable he’ll ever develop into a quality starter. But the physical gifts are undeniable and provide hope. He’s also such a freakish athlete that Monken should figure out a way to get him on the field in certain situations.
Until Berry has a franchise quarterback, his job won’t be complete.
That doesn’t diminish the excellent work he did during the draft.
