Andrew Berry has already poured heavy resources into fixing the Cleveland Browns offensive line, but it doesn't mean he's done. The NFL Draft could provide the perfect setting to finish off the rebuild.
Nearly a week into the new league year, the Cleveland Browns have made a handful of moves to reshape their roster already. Most of them came along the offensive line, which was the team's biggest area of need this offseason.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry found a way to address at least three of the five starting spots for next season.
Tytus Howard, who was acquired via a trade with that Houston Texans seems posied to be the starting right tackle. Free agent signings Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson have roles that remain more ambiguous at the moment, but Jenkins played center and guard in Green Bay, while Johnson has played either guard spot.
Maybe Joel Bitonio is still part of the equation? Maybe Teven Jenkins, who re-signed with the franchise on a one-year deal will hold down a starting role.
Either way, it's obvious that Berry had his heart set on overhauling the o-line first amd foremost. As the dust settles on the first week of moves, many have turned their attention toward the next biggest need, wide receiver and assumes that Berry's lack of attention on that position sets the stage for Cleveland to simply take the best wideout on the board next month when they're on the clock with the No. 6 pock in the NFL Draft.
It's a reasonable assumption to make, but not necessarily accurate.
For starters, it's important to remember that Berry tends to be pretty screwed when it comes to the draft. Last year, for example, he kept his blockbuster trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars to trade back from No. 2 to No. 5 in the order a big secret until draft night.
There needs to be an open mind for Berry potentially moving out of the sixth pick altogether. Of course, he could do that and still take a wide receiver after trading back or even up. It remains their next biggest need.
Still, the o-line rebuild isn't entirely complete. Most notably, the left tackle spot remains unfilled and Berry may have left it vacant on purpose, with his eyes toward filling it in late April. If so there are certainly names that make sense, even at six, for him to pull the trigger on.
Georgia product Monroe Freeling has been this year's biggest riser, and may just find himself in consideration for a top 10 pick as one of the only true left tackle prospects at the top of the board. Others, like Miami's Francis Mauigoa or Utah's Spencer Fano could also go in the top 10, but they're both right tackles primarily and moving them to the other side would induce some complicated feelings after Jed Wills failed to make that switch as the first first-round pick Berry made with Cleveland.
Either way, the the tackle position is a top heavy one in this year's draft class. Some see the commitment to fixing the o-line in free agency as a box checked and it's onto the next. In reality, it could just tee up Berry to finish addressing what's clearly the team's top priority and finally find his franchise left tackle.
There's also the fact that there's plenty of value to be had at the WR position beyond the top 10 picks, and even beyond the first round. The 2026 WR class is considered one deeper position overall.
That's the beauty of having two first rounders this year. Berry doesn't have to feel forced into choosing between the two top needs. If he wants to address both in the first round, he can.
One thing is clear from the first week of freedom agency: the Browns know fixing the o-line is pivotal. That's like to frame what's to come in April as well.
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