The Cleveland Browns may not be in line for blockbuster trade at next weekend’s NFL Draft after all.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry opened up about their potential to either bring in a veteran player or ship out a player from the roster and explained why it is “not likely.”
The Browns have been rumored to trade out of the No. 6 overall pick in the first round Thursday. There also have been trade rumors swirling about superstar EDGE rusher Myles Garrett.
Andrew Berry: Trading a Veteran Player is ‘Less Likely’
First-day trades are rare, though they make for good internet fodder.
Still, Berry is doing his due diligence and checking in with other teams on potential deals that will make the Browns better. He also is listening on deals but said he doesn’t think he’ll part with one or more of their roster players.
“We’ll do anything that can help the team and move the roster forward,” Berry said. “I think that’s much less likely.”
The Browns are in an advantageous spot, picking in the top-10 again, even though they have their quarterback and elite defensive players like Garrett, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger.
So when asked about the process of trading back with a more desperate club that may want to leverage multiple picks to get into the top-10 — like the Kansas City Chiefs or New York Jets, each of whom has two first-round picks — Berry explained how that process goes.
“You have discussions throughout the week, weekend and everything like that,” Berry said. “I couldn’t handicap anything as we sit here today.”
Andrew Berry Called Caleb Downs ‘an Excellent Player and an Excellent Kid’
There are definitely Browns fans hoping Caleb Downs is available for Berry to pick with the No. 6 selection.
Berry fanned the flames of interest in the Ohio State safety, who finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting after earning his second straight All-American honor.
“He’s among a very good safety class,” Berry said. “He’s an excellent player and an excellent kid.”
Still, there would be Browns fans angry about them selecting a defensive back in the top 10 when they have so many offensive needs. But Berry explained why Downs could be a fit based on where leaguewide trends are going.
“You’re really transitioning from a league where you had either four defensive linemen and three off-the-ball linebackers or five down and two off-the-ball linebackers to a three-safety league where you have these safeties that are hybrid defenders,” Berry said. “Those guys provide a lot of value.”
Berry cited Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens and Nick Emmanwori of the Seattle Seahawks as two of the primary leaguewide examples of “position-less” DBs. He alluded to the fact Downs could follow that trend and that the Browns could select and deploy him in that method if they choose him.
“You’re getting to this positionless defensive philosophy in the NFL, so I think that position is certainly gaining value,” Berry said. “That’s something that we’ve deployed as well.”
Browns GM Andrew Berry Sends Clear Message on Trading Veterans as Draft Nears