I think with the recent additions, the Browns are bound to do one or the other. OK....maybe both.

The point is, I don't see all that many open positions for drafted players to make the roster. It doesn't make the best use of 8 picks if you probably can't roster 7-8 players. Realistically, we might have 4 slots.

Do we package both of the 3rd rounders to get back in to the 2nd round? Do we trade back to acquire some extra picks next year where we have 6 picks?

Any thoughts?

It's a crap shoot at this point as to what they will do. I would like to think that if they can find any trade partners they would prefer to trade some of this years picks for picks in next years draft. You can usually get a pick at one round higher for doing such. The thing about that is, by the time the Browns picks come up, it may be low enough in the draft teams won't think there's any players left on the board worth paying that price for. I guess we'll see.

I was thinking trading for future picks was the most likely play, but I don't know enough about next year's draft class to feel confident in that assessment.

Honestly, with us lacking the first rounder, I don't know as much as usual about this draft class.

I think they will make 1 pick in 3rd round, 1 pick in the 4th round, and 1 pick in the 5th round and trade the other picks in each round for 2024 draft capital. There will be some future spending halts and replacing talent with draft picks in the future. They have done a great job this off-season stocking talent without a high draft pick though.

I don't think any of the moves in FA dictate a decision one way or another at this point. Someone they value very high can fall (JOK) and feel it appropriate to move up. Or, based on their system of grading, there could be many guys around the same place value-wise and they could feel comfortable moving down and still get the same type of caliber they want.

The only time (at least off the top of my head) when a team might go into the draft looking to trade down as an overall strategy is when it is systematically part of a rebuild and you want to amass as many picks as possible. The more swings you are able to make the more hits you'll have while possibly getting higher round, future picks in subsequent drafts. This is what we did when we started a rebuild in 2016.

I'd like to see us trade up to get one of the DL that we might have drafted at 42. Does anyone think one of our 3's, 4's and a 5th would be enough to get us back into the 2nd round?

The draft is dynamic.

I think you react as the moment dictates. BPA is a sound strategy.

However, the roster right now has their starters.

We have two 3's.
Two 4's
Two 5's
A 6th
A 7th

We could move up and target a guy. Myself I would only move back to get more and higher picks in 2024. An example trade the 5's to get higher picks in 2024. Do that with any pick.

Look for guys you feel you could develop on both lines and running back. Maybe take a linebacker you like.

Play the draft. Be open and creative.

Maybe I wasn't clear. No doubt any trade backs would involve future picks

Drafting 8 players this year doesn't make much sense even though Memphis brings up a valid point that the more players you bring in, the better the chances a few will work out. That said, I still don't think we are looking to add any more picks to this years draft. They will probably be for next year. As Pit mentioned, you get some sort of premium to send a pick for a pick next year. It may not be a round premium, but it could be. My thinking is we could probably trade a 4th this year for a 4th and 5th next year, but who knows, maybe a 3rd.

We have a GM who seems to have a good rep with the other GM's. Berry looks for way to add value but also is fair and realistic. I think everybody walks away feeling like it was a good, fair trade. Not like when we were kids trying to trade a Max Alvis baseball card for a Mickey Mantle...for those who don't know, Max was a decent 3rd baseman for the Tribe in the mid 60's, but no Mickey Mantle.

Good trades are where everybody wins. If other GM's feel like someone is trying to screw them, they won't even talk. It's going to be interesting to see what transpires.

I am with you.

Typically this years round can get a higher pick in next years draft.

Of course you have to factor in where in the round.

We have 8 picks. I don't think we should add more than five players to this roster.

As we know the draft can fall weird sometimes.

At this stage given what I have seen from AB. I have confidence in him. You are never going to bat 1000 in the draft.

At the same time gems can fall and be found almost anywhere.

And I agree with that.

Draft trades usually fall on the clock or close enough a GM feels he can get one of the players he has targeted. If some player drops who he never expected would, he doesn't trade and takes the kid if he gets to our pick.

They already did trade up or back. They did to ac@uire Watson, they also did to ac@uire Elijah Moore, probably they should make a pick if they weren't totally unable or incompetent to get a player at all out of the college draft who wasn't a complete and total reach.

In years past I was all over the draft because we had so many early top picks.

I don't have a clue in this draft. I was looking at pick 42. Now we begin at 74?

We have eight picks. However, I will have to wait till we pick them.

Then do a deep dive.

It'll never happen, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they traded all of our remaining picks away for better future picks this year. I'm struggling right now to see where a rookie would fit to contribute, and if you're making a run, I think you want as much vet talent on the team as you can get. So what should we do?

Now if there is a better LT prospect still on the board for our first pick... Then maybe they have an impact. Just maybe.

I agree, out starters are set for the most part. Anybody drafted this year will only impact the roster, as in take somebodys place.

Any who make the team will be project players who might contribute on special teams or possibly spot play this season.


You never know, but I seriously doubt anybody drafted isn't going to push for rookie of the year....lol


Funny you mention trading all for future picks. I was thinking the same only going all for a trade up as far as possible this year....kind of like Ditka did in NO....but that is the ultimate gamble, tossing all your eggs in to one basket. Kind of like stories told about people taking their life savings and betting red or black on the roulette wheel.

As a conservative in almost all that I do, I like your idea better. Or, do what Berry probably will, trade for maybe 2 picks next year, the last year we don't have a 1st rounder.

If the Browns would trade all of their remaining picks this year for pick number twelve overall this year, and you had to take a player,
who would you take?
At first glance, I'd take Dalton Kincaid the TE out of Utah
What would it do?
It would provide a TE room that 4 deep could play or block, and compliment the Wr room, and the current Head Coach's offensive philosophys,
Plus, it would bring dividends in future years when the other TE's get older, this one would be hitting his prime years.

I don't think all our picks would get us close to 12. If they did, I wouldn't be doing it for a TE. Maybe Broderick Jones or Paris Johnson if I had to pick someone there. Don't really see the value in it, though. It seems we'd be better off looking for more depth later.

I don't see the team playing many 2 TE sets anymore. That may have been a philosophy before, but not much anymore with Watson at QB.

With that in mind, I don't see the need for 4 TE's on the roster. We will probably keep 3, but there is a chance we only keep 2 on the roster.

Not sure I agree w/us not going w/12 Personnel anymore. It's a fundamental part of the Shanahan/Kubiek tree. The only one who runs a ton of 11 Personnel is McVay in LA. I think we will run some 11, but it puts a ton of stress on your OL and your protection packages. Don't be fooled into thinking that you need to trot a lot of WRs out there to pass the ball.


Guess who led the league in 12 and 13 Personnel last year?

The Kansas City Chiefs.

I see us running a lot of 12 Personnel. One back. Two TEs. 2 WRs. We can always move either Njoku or Akins outside. We will run more 11, but the down and distance, time left in the game, score of the game, field position, etc will be what influences which personnel groups we trot out there.

Most years they have 4 TE on the roster or locked up to call up. in the 00's it may have been 3 it has been 4 more often since about the years Haslam bought the team, whether that ='s a correlation or not.

Trade up or Trade back.
the Bears have 2 first round picks in 2024. Their own and Carolinas' , Carolinas' projects to be a top I0 pick. Chicago's later.

General comment.
Trade up or back?
Would you trade DPJ TODAY to the Bears for the Bears First round pick in 2024 which projects outside of the top ten, but not the first round 2024 pick the Bears received from Carolina.
Trade DPJ today for the Bears original first round pick in the 2024 draft. Yes or No if you had 4 minutes to decide.

Yes I'd trade that, where's the pen.
I might even do it if I were the Bears. Hmm.

I would not be surprised if Cleveland runs some 21-personnel too. I think people are overlooking that Felton was drafted as a receiving running back. Now that Kareem Hunt is gone Felton may come into play.

This is from a recent article by Scott Petrak, whose writing and analysis is in my opinion, darn good for a newspaper guy. Just a partial quote from his article, written after Berry signed the WRs and Tomlinson, the new safety plus Oggie.

“Free agency never really ends, but Berry can shift his focus to the draft. The buzz around it will be significantly less than normal without a pick until No. 74, but it remains a necessary tool to provide an influx of young talent.

Considering the offseason additions, urgency to win and composition of the roster, the Browns won’t need all eight picks. That creates freedom and options for Berry.

He could use Nos. 74 and 98 to get back into the second round if a player he loves falls into range. He could trade multiple midround picks to add a Day 2 selection in 2024. He could trade for a veteran.”

I like FA thus far. We are covered or better at some weak spots from last year. Hope we are cherry pickers in this draft. I hope we trade up if a serious needs available. Like proven vets if they can be had reasonably. I don't see us trading down well with the DW deal. But if we deal a few of our depth folks or we move to get more picks, I am OK with it. I can't see an enthusiastic partner with our draft capital. Wait & see.

Looking at the picks, I might agree.

On the other hand, you never know who GMs are wanting to target with later round picks. I think the chances of trading a 5th rounder for a future pick remains in play. Then again, maybe not. We will just have to wait to see who wants who, and when they want them.

WE still need a DL, WR and LB to develop. It wouldn't hurt to draft a safety either.

Trade up. Berry may try to make a trade to get into the second round.

I don't think you should go into the draft planning to trade up or down.

We are picking 74th. There is no way to know ahead of time how the draft will fall?

You should be open to do move up, down, or not at all. It is about what presents itself.

We have picks: 74, 98, 111, 126, 140, 142, 190, 229.

I think we should be looking at target players.

Say we like Keion White. And we see him likely to go around pick 55 to 60. And he slides into the third (64).

We should move up and get him.

It all depends on how the draft falls. Who becomes available.

I understand the entire concept of targeting certain players. The problem becomes that players are grouped in regards to draft value. Once you get so far down in the draft order you may have 20-30 players grouped together in their value. So while I think you have a point possibly with pick #74 and an isolated player that just happens to fall around that #64 threshold you mentioned, once you get past let's say 126 and beyond it's closer to a crap shoot where several players hold a much closer evaluation.

I agree. We have enough late choices to finesse a trade, I believe. We also have shown that our players can play elsewhere successfully. I would rather see us trade for something rather than just release them. But I do feel good about FA results. If our remaining picks can help us leverage a second or third, then I would be pleased. Fingers crossed for this one. Can't say that I am eager or excited about this one. Maybe we find some magic if we rub some lamps.

Not sure if we can get to the 2nd, but if a player we want is there near the top of the 3rd I can see that. We might even be able to trade up and gain a lower pick next year.

That was the same point I was making. If we ID prospects that we feel carry a second round grade and they fall into the third.

We should be ready to move depending on the position and it's current depth.

It is never easy you have to find the right dance partner.

Yep. I think this is a draft where there will be more teams willing to trade back v trading up, so Berry is probably in the process of identifying the team that might be willing to make a move. Naturally that changes if a player is sitting there that they love when they hit the clock.

No first round pick and no realistic way to get into the first round.

So I am curious how Board members feel about the players in this draft that we might be able to get?

As an exercise let's look at players that are only projected in the second round and down.

Is there are player worth trading up for? Pick a player and make a case to get him.

IMO we need a long term Edge rusher. DE is a premier position in the NFL. Jim Schwartz bases his defense on pressure from the front four.
Of course we have Myles. We drafted Alex Wright last year and he was ok. He may develop.

We signed free agent Ogbo and there is some promise there that he may be a decent rusher.

However, we need a four man rotation and you always need great pass rushers.

Keion White is a projected second round pick with an overall rank of #48th.
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/players/2023/keion-white

I really like his profile.
https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2023-nfl-draft-keion-white-scouting-report/

I believe he is a guy we need to watch and if possible make a move up to get. If he gets near the bottom of the second. We should start calling.

He has the tools you look for the a DE. I would love to get him.

If we trade in to the 2nd, it would have to be late IMO. I think it would still be pretty steep.

I am thinking we might be able to move with our 3rd to near the top of the 3rd by adding a 4th rounder and maybe getting a 5th next year. I see something along those lines as possibilities.

Who might make us do that....I don't know...one of the DT's possibly? Which one...name one and I will agree. I couldn't tell you the difference between 2-3-4 of them.

I am curious about what players people like.

Once the second round begins it is hard to figure out how it will layout.

I agree we are more likely looking from mid to late second for a guy.

But who? Keion White is all over the second as far as mocks.

I do not think it is so much about position as it is the player. If we can find value that is the key. We could take a LB, Safety, WR, OL, DL, RB, TE.

I would like to get at least one impact player and the rest could be developing guys that have upside.

I don't know this draft very well at all. So I was wondering who others like.

I agree it is probably more about player. I just said DT, but it could be any position if we have a player in mind who is clearly the best player on the board. Other than QB(probably), it could be any position. Starting in the 3rd round, it is important to get a player who will be a good player. he may not be a "need" right now, but in 2-3 years he might be just what we need.

Just accept that there is no first rounder this year and move on…

Moore is the pick. 23 with a couple years under his belt.

Well said, and while it remains to be seen, it is probably a pretty solid pick.

This article points out three players the Browns might move up for:

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/arti..._in_the_2023_nfl_draft/s1_16697_38719227


There are probably others. IMO the most likely would be pass rushers.

I can only see us moving up. Do you really see us adding 8 rookies to this team? There is not room on the team. And with UDFA, after the draft, i can only see us drafting 4 or 5 players, JMHO.

One option is trading this years picks for higher picks next year.

So as an example from value charts pick #74 (a 3rd) is worth pick #42 (a 2nd) in next years draft.

If I understand it you gain approx. 32 places.

This is a weird year. We should be looking to whatever makes the most sense according to where the roster stands currently.

I do not like the idea of trading a pick this year for a pick next year, ... unless it's un heard of like turning a 4th into a first or something, because the purpose of picks is to pick players,

For instance, I recall RG3, went 3rd overall , approximately, and, in the 6th round his team took Kirk Cousins who is still in the league, and also Ryan Tannehill went that year, and he is still in the league,
so , ... ranks and future picks you need to pick players.

D'Ernest Johnson replacement, JJ3 replacement , Ronnie Harrison replacement,
Greedy Williams replacement,
a real kick cover/ returner in special teams...

there ARE 8 holes in the Browns roster, ... Taki>Taki won't be eligible to return from injury for eleven approximate games,
We aren't sure if Kareem Hunt is coming back,
they aren't trying to bring back Jadeveon Clowney,
The DL free agent from Jacksonville didn't extend his one year deal, Tavon Bryant?
your 3rd safety entered the league as a UDFA iirc,
so they DO HAVE ROOM for 8 players
The thing is to man up, and select players like a real GM should, so I hope they get some impact players, more than 2.

A team needs 4 running backs.
They could always use another edge rusher,
A true slot cornerback would be a Godsend too.

A @b who gets sacked a lot, which Watson does, puts their OL,,, too often, in compromising posture situations, which lead to bad falling incidents and lower body injuries on your OL, so, you may as well
figure that into the analytics too,
they could use 8 new players... OR<
the new players could fail to make the roster,
that IS still a possible outcome, and legal by the rules too, make all the picks I hope.

I agree.

I will add my thought on moving back isn't so much to acquire picks for this year, but rather to add picks next year.

Agree completely. No wy do we trade down for more picks this year. I can see trading out for more picks next year and I can see us trading up to target a guy that we like.

I agree, just like I said. We probably aren't interested in getting more 6th rounders this year. We are interested in getting a 5th or better next year.

How much better depends on who and or what we trade this year. Nick Chubb would require a trade of Chubb and 3rd this year for a 2nd and maybe another 2nd next year. Maybe even a 6th next year added..

I am not advocating that, but it would be something to consider.

https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/CLE

I looked over Ourlads depth chart for a total.. I haphazardly counted 75-78 on current roster, this comes down to 53 at end of August. IMO, a number here will be just camp fodder, experiments and wait and see kind of guys.It's difficult for me to see trading back to get anyone under these circumstances. I think if we do anything, we stand pat or make packages to move up.

While you never know who the fodder might be, our roster is as "set" as it has been in the last 20 years. We have had many years where every drafted player has made the team. It was almost expected they would make the team.

Eight rookies aren't going to make this team. We might need to take action on the over/under at 3.5. One way or another, sending a few picks off one way or another makes sense.

Agreed. Drafting for cuts doesn't seem wise. I had a question though that seems like it may be in play. At this point going into the draft, is our PS set already? If we are doing best player available, doesn't it seem that those picks are developmental. Not sure I expect starting caliber players as late in the draft as we are slotted. Bundle some and boost up in the picks seems wiser than stockpiling cuts we will need to make. .02.

How much of a scouting effort does it take to accomplish "drafting for cuts"..?

JMO, but I expect the Browns draft team to put in as much effort scouting our "last draft pick" as they put in to make our "first draft pick".

There is no way to measure a player's heart or determination if you don't put in the time to get to know that player.

I don't doubt the effort is being put in. But let's face it, once you get to a certain point in the draft it's a crap shoot. If heart and determination were such huge factors a lot more NFL busts would be NFL stars. It's not so much that the FO is "drafting for cuts" as the likelihood and reality is that will be the end results far more times than not.

I don't see it as lack of effort on our part, or some failure on the part of draftees. Even if we know them very well, the outcomes are a given for many of them, such that trading back gives us more picks that we won't keep. Numbers. If they go to next year, better for us. My interest and my question were about practice squad slots; I expect late choices to be developmental. And though I am aware of the need to break down players we take in the draft, I am more concerned about the level of effort we make once they are in camp to evaluate them before cuts. JMO

I don't know Mac. I think you are taking the comment too literal. It isn't about effort or not scouting or teaching players.

This year we don't have all that many open roster spots. I don't see any way that if we draft 8 players, all 8 would make the team. In years past all most probably would make the team. I think that is where the comment about drafting to cut came.

If we decide to trade up for a player, who would you trade up for?

The number one player I would trade up for is Keeanu Benton the DT from Wisconsin.

Felix the CAT,
Trenton the Tiger, Trenton simpson Clemson tigers, would trade less up for.

FELIX THE CAT, KSU Wildcats, Felix Anudike Uzomah, is a pass rush nightmare, and in a simulator I traded,
seventy four, ... ninety eight,... and a 3rd next year...

to number 34 to take him, and felt pretty dang good about it. Because imagine this team with another pass rush nightmare,
no> a really good one, one I'd feel like I was getting a top ten overall type guy.

and because keeping number one hundred eleven overall is very important to me.

I reserve the right, to feel differently today, than I felt yesterday.

FELIX THE CAT is going to be a top player, reminds me of Andre Ware.
FELIX THE CATTTT

I do a few mocks here and there. I think they are mostly unrealistic enough without making trades. That said, if that is a guy you really like, I suppose it does give you an idea of what it would take to make a move up like that. I would think those sites have trades factored in by using draft value charts of some sort. I have never tried but would assume you couldn't make that trade by offering a 6th rounder.

I just read this and it sure sparked some thought.

https://www.brownsnation.com/browns-insider-ponders-a-massive-trade/

Wills for Chase Young.

mmmmmm

I read where Rivera said; "Rivera mentioned that not picking up the fifth year could perhaps motivate Young."

He won the ROY. Then got hurt and has not played much. Apparently, there is some bad blood there.

Wills is young. However, he has not yet performed to expectations. He has not been bad and maybe his best play is in front of him.

My thought is if Young is healthy and his knee checks out. He is the better talent. So, if he checks out medically.

Yes. I would make that trade.

Then who will play LT for us? With DW at QB I don't know if we should start fooling with the O-Line.

I had the same thought after hearing the news on Young.

Hudson would play LT.

And we would need to find some more depth. No different than if he got hurt.

Not ideal but we can find some bodies.

Chase Young is a better football player than Wills. He plays a premium position and he is young.

We can begin looking at the draft as well.

It is not easy finding great pass rushers. The same is true for LT but Wills is replaceable.

Trade up and try to get into the 2nd round.

Ten players worth trading up for,
to 60+ if they fall.

I. Felix Anudike Uzomah edge K s U
2. Tank Bigsby, Rb Auburn
3. Trenton simpson, Edge Clemson
4. BJ Ojulari Lsu?
five. O'Cyrus Torrence.

Darnell Wright OT
Hendon Hooker @uarterback
Jalin Hyatt Wr tenn.
Zach Harrison edge Ohio state,
Kayshon Boutte WR lsu,

Ten worth trading up for if any of them fall. Near 60ish overall.

WE WANT MORE.
edit. what?
Forgot Jordan Batlle safety, got to include him.

At fifteen overall I'd hope the Browns would begin trying to trade up for the
best available pass rusher,
defensive lineman
Wide receiver,
running back
or Offensive lineman.
or elite safety. or ... even corner.
or elite Linebacker.