With the NFL Draft looming next month, Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry could explore trading back from the No. 6 overall, but a lot remains to be determined.
Last year, the Cleveland Browns pulled off a stunning draft night trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move back from the No. 2 overall pick to the No. 5 overall pick.
In actuality, the deal had been consummated weeks before, with conversations between Browns' GM Andrew Berry and Jags GM James Gladstone first picking up at the NFL's annual meetings in late March.
One year later, Berry is keeping the door open on another move down, this time from No. 6 overall.
"Hey, listen, if we can have more premium assets, it's helpful," Berry said Sunday at the league meetings. "I think you can look back to last year; there are some really good players in last year's draft, the top of last year's draft. We felt like we got one of them in last year's draft and by moving back three spots, essentially to get a one and a two, made sense for us."
It could make sense again in 2026. Berry added that there is a world that exists where they leave draft weekend with a 2027 first-round pick, but how that would come to fruition isn't so clear at this stage.
As Berry reiterated, how they handle the pick will come down to what players are available when they're on the board.
"I think it really just depends on the prospects that are available," he stated. "This is what I would say: I don't know that we are going to be picking six at the end of April, and if we are picking six, I have no idea what we're going to take at this point. And so we try and remain flexible as we go into draft weekend, and we want to use the asset in the best way possible, whether that's sitting and picking, trading up, trading down, trading it for a veteran player."
A lot is still to be determined, expectedly so. Another reason for that, though, comes down to where Cleveland is drafting this year.
Last offseason it became clear pretty early on that the Tennessee Titans were going to select Cam Ward No. 1 overall, which left the Browns with an entire board of non-QBs at their disposal one pick later. In some ways, the draft really started with them, which made a trade-up very enticing for teams.
This year, Cleveland is drafting sixth, so there's less clarity on which players will be there. While it that may make it seem more difficult to facilitate a trade ahead of time this year, Berry made it clear that's not necessarily the case.
Of course, to trade back, Berry would also need a trade partner. There's been some reporting shared already about teams coveting their 2027 first-rounders, given the potential rookie QB class that looms next offseason.
Berry doesn't see it that way, considering that the market for firsts has already come to fruition.
"I wouldn't say so because I think, what is it, six teams have two firsts this year or something along those lines," he said. "I can't remember how many have given up their 27 picks, but I think there will be a market for those 27 picks if I had to guess."
The answer is two. The Indianapolis Colts and Green Packers have given up 2027 firsts to this point. Indy's pick belongs to the Jets. Green Bay's pick (currently with the Cowboys) could end up with the Jets as well, depending on where it falls in the order. A third 2027 first nearly got traded in the since-voided Maxx Crosby trade between the Ravens and Raiders.
The weeks ahead could see the Browns join the 2027 first-round pick pursuit.
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