A good NFL draft can sometimes make or break a team’s season just as a bad draft can destroy a season and future seasons as well. Many NFL draft experts believe Browns GM Andrew Berry had a good draft, some think great. While those who think it’s great base that on the draft of one quarterback in the fifth round, it won’t be known how good this draft is until the draftees play. I don’t believe in grading drafts. Show me when it counts is my motto. However, I do believe this could be Berry’s most productive draft top to bottom. Berry has drafted productive individual players, Grant Delpit, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Greg Newsome, Martin Emerson, Alex Wright, Jerome Ford, Cedric Tillman, Dawand Jones, Isaiah McGuire and Cameron Mitchell. There have been well documented misses, but no NFL GM is perfect. Berry has proven his worth as a GM by using trades and UDFA to fill the roster. How much of an impact can this draft class make?

The Browns started with back-to-back defensive picks in the first two rounds. In 2024, the Browns offense was terrible, as was their run defense. The number five pick overall, defensive tackle Mason Graham will defiantly help the run defense but could also help the pass rush. Graham was never asked to rush the passer in college; he’ll get his chance in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s attack the quarterback style. If Graham can get pressure, this will make defensive end’s Myles Garrett life much easier. Garrett has better success when there are others on the defensive line providing pass rush. In 2021 Garrett had his first career high in sacks at sixteen. He benefited from DE Jadeveon Clowney (nine sacks), DT Malik McDowell (3 sacks) and DE Tak McKinley (2.5 sacks). If Graham can reach five to six sacks, Garrett will benefit along with DT Mike Ford, DT Maliek Collins, DT Alex Wright, DE Isaiah McGuire and DE Ogdo Okoronkwo.

Linebacker Carson Schwesinger has been described as a tackling machine. He was drafted because of the uncertainty of the health of LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Because of his great technique, I’ll bet he leads the team in tackling or is at least in the top five. JOK rookie numbers in 2021 were 49 solo tackles, 76 tackles, 27 assisted tackles and one and a half sacks. I think Schwesinger surpasses those statistics.

I’ve advocated for the Browns to draft two running backs in this draft since the season ended. This draft was loaded at the running back position. They did not disappoint. Both Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson are accomplished college running backs. Judkins before transferring to Ohio State, led the SEC in rushing. In 2022 he rushed for 1567 yards (5.7 average) and in 2023 rushed for 1158 yards (4.3 average). In both 2023 and 2024 he had 22 rushing touchdowns, both career bests. Sampson was SEC offensive player of the year for 2024 where he rushed for 1485 yards (5.8 average) and 22 touchdowns, a team record. For his career, he’s rushed for 2486 yards (5.9 average) and 35 touchdowns. This duo gives the Browns and inexpensive and potentially productive backfield for at least three years.

Tight end Harold Fannin is a pass catcher. He’ll be tight end number two and will compliment starter David Njoku. His last year at Bowling Green, Fannin had 117 receptions for 1555 yards and ten touchdowns. All career highs. His yardage was more than half of Bowling Greens passing yardage in 2024, so he knows how to be the focus of a passing offense. Both quarterbacks taken in the draft will make the team. Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were the most accurate quarterbacks in college football in 2024, (72.9% and 74.0% respectively). Both had career years their last year in college. Gabriel had career highs in completions (326), attempts (447) and yards (3857). Sanders had career highs in completions (353), average (8.7) and QBR (168.2) Much will be made of Gabriel’s height (5’11”) and Sander’s interception total in 2024 (ten), but both are adaptable to different offensive schemes, and both can thrive in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense.