Andrew Berry says he's trying to maximize 'most valuable asset,' whether that's trading down from No. 6 or not

BEREA — Andrew Berry was loose a week before the start of the NFL Draft and all the pressure that brings. The seventh-year general manager cracked jokes, bantered with reporters and playfully pushed back on the growing media sentiment that he will trade the No. 6 pick and move down."I love how everybody last year thought we weren't trading down and everybody this year assumes we are," Berry said Thursday in his annual predraft news conference.Tyson Campbell getting comfortable in first offseason with BrownsA year ago, Berry already had the framework in place to trade the No. 2 pick to the Jaguars, who took two-way player Travis Hunter. The Browns got Nos. 5 (defensive tackle Mason Graham) and 36 (running back Quinshon Judkins) and a first-rounder in 2026, which turned out to be No. 24.The variables are different this year at No. 6, but Berry said his approach isn't."Every year is unique because the players change, your pick location changes, demand may change," he said. "The dynamics are different, but even if we were picking (No.) 2 again this year, I'd give you the same answer."The buzz has intensified in recent days that Berry will trade down from No. 6. Three national draft experts — ESPN's Mel Kiper, The Athletic's Dane Brugler and The Ringer's Todd McShay — predicted trades with the Cowboys that would drop the Browns to No. 12. The Browns would either receive a second-round pick in 2027 or No. 20 this year, which would require Cleveland to give up No. 39. In that scenario, the Browns would have three first-rounders — Nos. 12, 20 and 24.Carson Schwesinger ready to build on Defensive Rookie of Year, focused on 'what's next'"I'd go back to what I've said in the past. Our mindset going into the draft with our most valuable asset isn't about, hey, just trade it away … it's maximizing the asset," Berry said. "And that can at different times take different forms. It can be selecting a player. It could be trading for a veteran. It could be trading down. It could be trading up. And so we will continue to work through all those possibilities up until we get on the clock on Thursday night."But I'd say we're working through a number of different scenarios at this point."The reasons for the speculation are sound.Berry's general philosophy is the more picks the better. After Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the draft is top-heavy with defense and the Browns' strength is that side of the ball. The Cowboys seem desperate to improve their defense. The Browns' biggest needs are receiver and left tackle, and they may not view any of the options at those positions worthy of the No. 6 pick.Of course, Berry could stand pat and pick."Last year at this point, I wouldn't have assumed that our first two picks would have been a three-technique and an off-the-ball linebacker," he said of Graham and Carson Schwesinger. "The first order of business is to get players that you think have the potential to be a quality starter or a difference-maker, particularly when you're picking high. The other thing is ultimately you want unique players when you're picking this high because they're not difficult to identify but they're very difficult to acquire. And the draft is one of those opportunities."I think oftentimes the public discourse on the draft focuses on need as if NFL teams go into the draft saying, 'Hey, look, I'm just going to pick the best this player, this player, this player, because that's how our roster looks today.' When the reality of it is these players, they're longer-term investments for your organization."Todd Monken happy with start of offseason program, hopes to establish 'a team that nobody wants to play'As always, Berry didn't rule out anything in an attempt to advance the roster. He did refer to trading a veteran player as "much less likely."He was asked how the perception he wants to trade down would affect his dealings with other general managers."It's a good question, but I don't see it affecting communication," he said.The analytics-heavy organization never stops doing research or crunching numbers, and that includes looking historically at how teams that traded down have fared."Not just trading down, trading up, moving around the board, what you can expect at different pockets of each round in the draft and what your odds are ultimately of hitting on a starter, hitting on a role player," Berry said. "So that all factors into it, for sure."What have they discovered?"I can't share all my secrets," he said.Berry said there are "really good players" throughout the draft class, calling it a "good group." At or near the top of many analysts' boards is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, who had 40 total touchdowns in the last two years.If he makes it to No. 6, the number of teams calling Berry about a trade could increase. Berry would also have the option of taking a dynamic playmaker after drafting Judkins at the same position a year ago."He's special," Berry said of Love. "If you think about some of the, let's say, dual-threat backs that the league has had. Obviously Christian McCaffrey may be the poster child for that. Jahmyr Gibbs may be kind of the next generation of that. Jeremiyah certainly has a lot of those abilities and capabilities. He's a very dynamic prospect."One who shouldn't be considered just a running back."I think the way that you can deploy him is it's a lot different than other players at the position and specifically what he can do in the passing game," Berry said. So he's a pretty special, unique prospect."Love would be a surprise pick for the Browns. A receiver with their first choice wouldn't be. Browns wideouts totaled 117 catches for 1,467 yards and four touchdowns last year, with Jerry Jeudy accounting for 50, 602 and two.Ohio State's Carnell Tate is a popular option at No. 6, and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson is also a possibility, either at No. 6 or after a trade down."They're both excellent players. They both have size, they both can separate, good hands," Berry said. "Obviously Carnell, if he's not an NFL receiver, he probably could be a trapeze artist with how acrobatic he is. And Jordyn's an excellent creator with the ball in his hands. So they're two excellent, excellent, excellent, excellent prospects."Left tackle is the other obvious need. Many of the first-round options (Miami's Francis Mauigoa, Utah's Spencer Fano, Clemson's Blake Miller) have played mostly on the right side, but Berry doesn't view that as an obstacle."I've said this before, tackles are tackles," he said. "You're looking for certain characteristics because they've all got to be able to protect on an edge. Top rushers are not staying on one side of the ball, so we really do analyze it within the aggregate position."The post Andrew Berry says he's trying to maximize 'most valuable asset,' whether that's trading down from No. 6 or not first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.