Andrew Berry and the Browns Won the Draft
For one of the few times in the Browns history, the draft went exactly how the Browns could have wanted it. New General Manager Andrew Berry did a fantastic job in his first time at the helm. He made the correct picks, made solid trades, and addressed the teams needs.
In the first round, the Browns selected Jedrick Wills, the left tackle out of Alabama. This was a great selection for the Browns. Wills was a steady presence at Alabama and didn’t have any issues on or off the field. They avoided the issues that Mekhi Becton had with a flagged drug test, and they avoided Tristan Wirfs who was suspended for a game in his sophomore season due to an OWI arrest.
In the second round, Berry made the first of two trades. The Browns dealt the 41st pick to Indianapolis for the 44th pick and the 160th pick. The Browns selected LSU safety Grant Delpit with the 44th pick, the same player that the Browns would have taken if they had picked at 41. Delpit is a solid safety, which addresses a major need for the Browns. This trade allowed the Browns to get a free fifth round pick.
In the third round, the Browns made another trade, trading pick 74 and pick 244 to the Saints, and receiving pick 88 and a 2021 third round pick in return. With the 88th pick, the Browns took defensive tackle Jordan Elliot out of Missouri. Elliot was the highest ranked pass rushing defensive tackle since 2017 according to Pro Football Focus. Elliot was a second-team All American in 2019. With the Browns first three picks, the Browns took three players that were ranked in the top 25 on the PFF big board. The Browns also selected LSU linebacker Jacob Phillips with the 97th pick. Phillips is a talented player, who consistently makes the tackle and he was the nation’s top rated linebacker while in high school. He addresses the second biggest need on the roster and he should pair well with Mack Wilson.
On the final day of the draft the Browns selected tight end Harrison Bryant in the fourth round. Bryant attended college at Florida Atlantic University. He is more of a pass catcher than a run blocker, but he will provide solid depth at the position. In the fifth round the Browns took center Nick Harris out of Washington. Harris will be the backup behind J.C. Tretter. In the sixth round the Browns selected Michigan’s Donovan Peoples-Jones. Peoples-Jones is a wide receiver, but he showed stellar talent as a punt returner for Michigan. He could find a spot as a special teams star for the Browns in 2020.
Andrew Berry did a fantastic job of addressing all of the major needs, and he made smart decisions with his draft picks. If he continues to do this well as a general manager, he will be a part of the Browns organization for a long amount of time.
