Behind-the-scenes footage reveals Andrew Berry rejected an undesirable trade proposal from the Dallas Cowboys to secure top-rated tackle Spencer Fano for the Cleveland Browns. Two other players were also in play with the No. 9 overall pick.
By all accounts, Cleveland Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry had himself a home run of an NFL Draft weekend.
It all started with Berry executing a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to move back from No. 6 overall to No. 9 overall. In the aftermath of night one, Berry mentioned that he did have some interest in the No. 9 overall pick as well but opted to stay put and draft Utah tackle Spencer Fano.
Now more details have emerged, via the ESPN show "The Pick Is In" which aired on the network on Sunday night, providing a behind-the-scenes look into what transpired inside the war rooms of the Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
In one scene, Berry reveals the team's thought process behind the move, mentioning three specific players they had heavy interest in at six, and knowing at least one would still be available three picks later at nine. The three plays who were in play were Fano, Miami OT Francis Mauigoa and Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson.
The revelation certainly creates a what-could-have-been feeling for fans, but in the end, Cleveland ended up with Fano, who team brass has said was the top tackle on its board.
Later, the show also revealed that Berry had an opportunity to move back again from pick No. 9, this time with the Dallas Cowboys. The offer from America's Team, though, didn't seem to impress the Browns GM.
On a phone call with Stephen Jones, Dallas offers their two first-rounders 12 and 20, for the Browns' two picks at nine and 24, to which Berry declines. Jones then suggests throwing in a fifth-rounder to sweeten the deal and Berry doubles down, saying that still wouldn't "move the needle" for them.
That clip has exposed the Cowboys to plenty of online criticism for being laughably low in value, while Berry continues to receive more praise for turning it down. It probably was the right move in the long run.
According to the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, the two picks Cleveland owned (9 and 24) added up to a value of 2,090, while Dallas' picks came in at around 2,050. Adding a fifth-rounder to sweeten the pot would have put it over the value chart total, but with the Browns honed in on one of their top players in Fano, it was going to take more than that to agree to another trade back.
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