Andrew Berry hints at trading up, but of all the options for the Cleveland Browns at No. 6 overall, that seems the least likely.
All options appear to be on the table for the the Cleveland Browns when they're on the clock with the No. 6 overall pick next week.
Taking best player available, addressing a need like tackle or wide receiver and even trading back have all been mentioned as realistic options for Andrew Berry. This week, the Browns GM even kept the door open on one other potential outcome: trading up.
"I think probably in every draft, there's always someone who it's realistic to trade up for unless you have the first pick," said Berry at his annual pre-draft presser. "It's not just, "Hey, do I like that player enough to trade up for him?" It's what's the cost? What's the acquisition cost?," he explained. "And so I think that's a hard question to answer without having kind of both sides of it, but certainly that's a possibility."
Berry has a knack for never ruling anything out this time of year, so that's nothing groundbreaking. In elaborating on the proposition of trading up, though, he revealed exactly why trading up feels like the least likely outcome of all when it comes to what Cleveland will do with the no. 6 overall pick.
Maybe Berry's right about there always being a player worth trading up for in every draft. In most cases, that would be a quarterback; however, this year's QB class is considered one of the weakest in recent memory, with Fernando Mendoza headlining the group, destined for the Las Vegas Raiders No. 1 overall, followed by a questionable list of misfits.
Without the stars at that position, the 2026 class in general is considered a weaker one, with a few positions that boast some elite talent and value on days two and three.
With their most glaring needs on the offensive side of the ball and a lot of defensive talent projected to go before Cleveland's up at six, the desperation to move up for a player just doesn't feel like it's there.
Maybe one of the only players worth trading up for would be blue chip running back Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame. Except Cleveland just drafted two running backs last year. Is it worth giving up whatever extra capital is required to add Love and create a logjam in the backfield, while other key needs persist?
Probably not. None of that rules out an aggressive move like that from 24 or a move up from any of the other seven picks the Browns have in this draft. But from six? That would be stunning.
Fans should be prepared for just about anything with that first selection. That means, yes, there is a reality where Berry overlooks those key needs everyone has mocked to them in the first round to simply take the best player available, even if that person plays defense.
Trading up, however, is the one thing we can confidently rule out at this point, regardless of Berry's never say never approach.
Browns Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Browns. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.