Browns historical past: Will Andrew Berry commerce for a WR for the 4th yr in a row? Some choices

When the Cleveland Browns employed Andrew Berry away from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 to grow to be their new Common Supervisor, he was given the keys to the franchise. A part of his job duties is to supervise the faculty draft in April, signal free brokers, re-sign present gamers to new agreements, and take care of each portion of the roster.

That implies that each participant on the group offers with Berry concerning contracts. There are a number of gamers on the present roster who aren’t a by-product of Berry’s selecting, however the overwhelming majority are being paid by the Browns as a result of Berry personally picked them.

He discovered second-round expertise Martin Emerson, Jr. within the third spherical. He determined to ditch Baker Mayfield and commerce for Deshaun Watson. He signed Jack Conklin to anchor the offensive line. He saved Denzel Ward after one other concussion. He used a fourth-round decide on kicker Cade York. He gave the roster a succesful backup QB every season with Casey Keenum, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, and Jameis Winston. He drafted Jedrick Wills as an alternative of four-time Professional Bowler Tristan Wirfs. He discovered Dawand Jones. He chosen this yr’s main tackler Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and final yr’s main tackler Grant Delpit.

One tendency that Berry has up to now is the behavior of grabbing a defensive again and a large receiver in each draft. Right here’s an inventory of the receivers he has chosen so far:

2020: Spherical 6 – Donovan Peoples-Jones

2021: Spherical 3 – Anthony Schwartz

2022: Spherical 3 – David Bell, Spherical 6 – Michael Woods

2023: Spherical 3 – Cedric Tillman

2024: Spherical 5 – Jamari Thrash

Not precisely a glowing record, however the majority of drafts have been with out first-round draft picks because of the Watson commerce and even some second-round spots vacated as a consequence of different trades.

One other follow is Berry’s propensity to commerce for large receivers. This tendency he has carried out for the previous three years. Maybe since his draft prowess deciding on receivers hasn’t been that nice he compensates for his draft course of ineptness by buying and selling for gamers who have already got a monitor report of manufacturing:

2022: Amari Cooper – Dallas Cowboys received a 2022 fifth-round decide and a swap of 2022 sixth-rounders

2023: Elijah Moore – New York Jets received 2023 second-round choice, Browns get participant plus 2023 third-round decide

2024: Jerry Jeudy – Denver Broncos received 2024 fifth and sixth-round decisions

A fast look on the Browns present receiver room appears like this:

Jeudy getting into his second yr of a four-year deal
Tillman getting into his third yr of a four-year deal
Woods getting into the ultimate yr of a two-year deal
Thrash getting into his second yr of a four-year deal
Bell getting into the ultimate yr of a two-year deal

Free brokers embody Moore, James Proche (kick returner), Kaden Davis, Jaelen Gill, and Tony Brown (particular groups ace). Of those gamers, Moore stands out probably the most as a result of Berry traded out of beneficial second-round decide for him, and a third-round choice, regardless of the participant having had common manufacturing numbers within the professionals on the time of the commerce. Whereas with Cleveland, that pattern continued and now he’ll be capable of discover employment elsewhere.

The massive questions are: what receiver will Berry draft this yr and which receiver will he work out a commerce for? The franchise can be about to hit one among their trickier off-seasons being over $30 million over the wage cap.

Every receiver Berry traded for had present contracts with their present group. Some expressed a need to go away their NFL membership.

Listed here are some guesses for the Browns’ annual WR commerce roundup.

Picture by Ronald Martinez/Getty Pictures

Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams

Age: 31

The Rams have already advised Kupp that he will probably be traded. The one query is to which NFL franchise. After being named the NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr (2021) simply a short while in the past, he has struggled to stay wholesome and get in a full season though he made an announcement that he’s “healthy as ever.”

There are considerations about his massive wage and the way that would issue into negotiations. The Rams might want to eat a few of Kupp’s contract as a way to transfer him and ease the burden of his future group. Los Angeles appears keen to pay down the $7.5 million signing bonus which is absolutely assured.

For the Browns, this is able to give them a dependable WR2 reverse Jeudy. Kupp catches virtually every part thrown his method and has distinctive yardage after contact.

Kupp will have to be keen to signal a below-market deal particularly being on the unsuitable facet of 30-years previous. He’s a Tremendous Bowl champion, one Professional Bowl nod, voted First Crew All-Professional (2021), and was the NFL receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns chief in 2021.

Browns provide: 2025 fifth-round decide, 2026 fourth-round decide

Picture by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Pictures

Deebo Samuel – San Francisco 49ers

Age: 29

There are rumblings that the 49ers are “expected to explore trading” star receiver Deebo Samuel throughout this low season. The proficient receiver requested a commerce final yr and now has been given permission to hunt a commerce accomplice.

Samuel is getting into the ultimate yr of a four-year deal and is predicted to rely $15.83 million in opposition to the wage cap. Due to his age, ability set and contract standing, Samuel wouldn’t be a match for each group. Then there’s the truth that San Fran might not have real looking worth expectations and ask for an excessive amount of. The Niners prolonged WR Brandon Aiyuk final yr and love rookies Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing.

Samuel can be a runner so Cleveland would profit from working performs that contain him.

With Jeudy final season, the Browns had been in a position to obtain a fast turnaround which is what Samuel will provide as properly. The addition including a seasoned veteran to the combination can be advisable. Samuel was voted First Crew All-Professional and named to his solely Professional Bowl in 2021.

Browns provide: 2025 third-round decide, WR Cedric Tillman

Picture by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Pictures

Garrett Wilson – New York Jets
Age: 24

If Berry might pull this off, he would grow to be a genius dealer. Garrett is within the closing yr of his four-year deal and can rely simply $6.5 million in opposition to the cap. He’s nonetheless a really younger man and intensely productive and has confirmed to be a beast yearly within the league.

The Jets cleaned home in administration and should wish to transfer Garrett though which may be a far-fetched concept.

Garrett made the NFL All-Rookie Crew and was voted the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr in 2022 after being the tenth total decide within the 2022 NFL draft.

Browns provide: 2025 second-round decide, 2026 fifth-round decide

Picture by Steph Chambers/Getty Pictures

D.Ok. Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks

Age: 27

First off, Metcalf is 6’-4” and weighs 235 kilos. The previous second-round draft decide has two Professional Bowls and was voted Second Crew All-Professional in 2020. In his fourth season, he inked a three-year $72 million extension, so he has already had his payday. He’s within the closing yr of that deal and can rely $31.875 million in opposition to the cap. Buying and selling and signing Metcalf can be an enormous plum, however the odds are in opposition to it because of the cash he would insist upon.

All six seasons within the NFL Metcalf has come near getting 1,000 yards or eclipsed that mark with a excessive of 1,303 yards in 2020. He has 48 profession TDs, with 284 first-down conversions. If he got here to Cleveland, the teaching workers must proclaim they’ve two #1 receivers.

His manufacturing took a dip that previous season with a Professional Soccer Focus grade of 75.0 which is the bottom of his profession. Metcalf and Seahawks’ QB Geno Smith don’t appear to have a lot by way of chemistry so Seattle is perhaps inclined to maneuver on from the proficient receiver as an alternative of stepping into a brand new contract.

Browns provide: 2025 second-round decide, CB Greg Newsome

Take our ballot under then share your ideas in our remark part under

Ballot
The place’s your GM hat? Effectively, get it out of the laundry basket – it has work to do! Which of the profiled receivers would you commerce for?

62%

Garrett Wilson

(42 votes)

2%

One other WR in his closing contract yr not talked about

(2 votes)

2%

My GM hat was already within the washer so I couldn’t vote

(2 votes)

67 votes whole

Vote Now