For those who prefer the NFL Draft to the actual NFL season, the Cleveland Browns have been something of a disappointment this year. Thought to be a worthy contender for the No. 1 overall selection next April, the Browns are instead looking like playoff contenders with a lofty goal of playing games in February.
A Super Bowl appearance seems well out of reach, but so does the top pick in the draft. With a surprising 3-1 start, the Browns are in first place in the AFC North, and considering what is going on in the rest of the division, winning it for the first time since being reinstated into the NFL in 1999 seems to be realistic for Cleveland.
With that in mind, FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd recently sent a clear message about Browns general manager Andrew Berry, drawing attention to the talent he’s accumulated.
“I said Cleveland’s not going to get the No. 1 pick. Andrew Berry is one of the most underrated GMs in this league. These guys have good players, and they beat the Steelers, which surprised me. Beat them on Thursday night. They’ve won three straight. Todd Monken deserves credit. They have stabilized Deshaun Watson. They’re just going to find ways to win. And if you can get stabilized quarterback play, which you’re getting in Cleveland, this team is too talented to have the No. 1 pick in any draft,” Cowherd said.
Berry may have saved his job with his successful 2025 draft class, and he built on that with an arguably better group in 2026. The Browns have eight starters in their first or second year, a list that includes linebacker Carson Schwesinger, defensive tackle Mason Graham, tight end Harold Fannin Jr., running back Quinshon Judkins, rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion, and offensive linemen Spencer Fano and Austin Barber.
The GM traded down in both of those drafts and may have gotten a better player than he would have if the Browns stayed put. He was also able to engineer a trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams and brought back Jared Verse and more draft capital. All of his moves are made with an eye on the future, as Garrett would have been leaving his peak while Verse would be entering his prime alongside the Browns’ other young players.
Cleveland has found a way to take advantage of mustering just eight combined wins over the past two seasons, and it is starting to pay off, with a return to the top 10 picks looking more and more unlikely with each victory.
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