Oregon receiver Troy Franklin would be a welcome addition to the Browns in the draft -- but he won't be available if GM Andrew Berry trades away his second-round draft pick a third year in a row. (The Register-Guard)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The Browns come to the NFL Combine knowing they have two primary position needs – wide receiver and defensive tackle.
Without a first-round pick for the third year in a row as a result of the Deshaun Watson mega-deal in 2022, Berry has to decide which to fill in veteran free agency or trade and which to fill in the draft.
I think it’s an easy call.
Spend the big bucks in free agency on a blue-chip, ultra-expensive, pass-rushing – not run-stuffing – defensive tackle.
Use the top draft pick – No. 54 overall in the second round, unless Berry trades it for a third year in a row – on the receiver.
Here’s the logic in a nutshell: Young defensive tackles take years to make an impact in the NFL; whereas, play-making receivers are pouring out of the draft year after year because of the proliferation of wide-open passing offenses in the college ranks.
Buy the best defensive tackle
A penetrating interior defensive lineman is the biggest void in coordinator Jim Schwartz’s defense. He’s always had one in previous NFL stops.
Berry failed to land the big fish inside last season. He settled on Dalvin Tomlinson, who is a fine player who performs his assignments well but is not a quarterback tormentor.
Although the Browns’ 49 sacks in 2023 were the second-most in their franchise history, only 8.5 were turned in by interior tackles. Now, a few more came from end Za’Darius Smith when he was moved inside in obvious pass-rush situations. But Schwartz had to slide Smith inside ostensibly because the natural tackles Schwartz rotated inside provided little pass rush.
Tomlinson had three sacks, Jordan Elliott had 2.5, Shelby Harris 1.5 and Maurice Hurst 1.5. Tackle Siaki Ika, a Browns third-round draft pick from Baylor in 2023, appeared in four games as a rookie, playing only 100 defensive snaps and posting 0 sacks.
The dominant NFL defensive tackles routinely register 10 or more sacks. The top sackers among tackles last year were Justin Madubuike of Baltimore (13), Chris Jones of Kansas City (10.5), Zach Sieler of Miami (10), Ed Oliver of Buffalo (9), Christian Wilkins of Miami (9), Kobie Turner of the Rams (9), Christian Barmore of New England (8.5), Aaron Donald of the Rams (8) and Kenny Clark of Green Bay (7.5).
It so happens that Madubuike, Jones and Wilkins could be free agents if their teams don’t apply the franchise tag on them or re-sign them before March 13.
Another highly-rated tackle who could become free is D.J. Reader of Cincinnati, though he lacks the pass-rush scare we’re talking about.
It’s possible Berry might make a pitch to trade for one of Washington’s premier defensive tackles, Daron Payne or Jonathan Allen, but that’s unlikely because the price probably would be a future No. 1 – and Berry doesn’t want to trade away another No. 1 after suffering three years without one.
Draft the best available receiver
Berry hasn’t taken advantage of a golden era of young receivers in the draft for two reasons. He’s been without a No. 1 pick for three years now and he has exacerbated that problem by trading away his second-round pick two years in a row.
That has to stop this year.
In 2022, Berry traded the 44th overall pick of the draft to – who else? – the Texans for a third-round pick and two fourth-round picks. Berry used the third-round pick on cornerback Martin Emerson and the fourth-round picks on defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey and kicker Cade York – both of whom are gone.
By trading the pick, Berry passed up receivers George Pickens, Alec Pierce and Skyy Moore. Pickens (16.9-yard average and 9 TD on 115 catches) and Pierce (15.2 average on 73 catches) have been good players in their two seasons.
In 2023, Berry traded the 43rd overall pick of the draft to the Jets for receiver Elijah Moore and the 74th overall pick in the third round. Moore excited everyone in training camp, but wound up with a 10.8-yard average and 2 TD on 59 catches. Berry double-dipped at the position with the third-round pick and chose Cedric Tillman of Tennessee. In limited play time, Tillman had 21 receptions and no touchdowns.
By trading the 43rd pick, Berry passed up receivers Jayden Reed of Green Bay (64 catches, 8 TD), Rashee Rice of Kansas City (79 catches, 7 TD), Marvin Mims of Denver (17.1 average on 22 receptions) and Tank Dell of Houston (15.1 average and 7 TD in 11 games).
Last year, six receivers went in the top 50 players in the draft; Rice was No. 55.
This year, “There's a bunch of wideouts in this draft,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on a recent Zoom conference call.
Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks 14 receivers among his top 65 prospects.
The top tier is out of Berry’s reach. This includes Marvin Harrison of Ohio State, Malik Nabers of LSU, Rome Odunze of Washington, Brian Thomas of LSU, Keon Coleman of Florida State and Ladd McConkey of Georgia. All could be taken in the first round.
But the second tier could trickle down to the Browns’ spot at No. 54. This includes Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy of Texas, Troy Franklin of Oregon, Roman Wilson of Michigan, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan of Washington, and Devontez Walker of North Carolina.
Berry’s record of drafting receivers is underwhelming. In his four drafts with the Browns, he’s taken Donovan Peoples-Jones (sixth round) Anthony Schwartz (third), David Bell (third), Michael Woods (sixth) and Tillman (third). Tillman, at No. 74, was the highest pick Berry has used on a receiver.
That has to change this year.