BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Andrew Berry shook up the 2025 NFL Draft Thursday night.
After trading out of No. 2 and collecting a 2026 first round pick, Berry stayed at No. 5 and filled a key defensive need.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from night 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 5 – The Browns selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the fifth overall selection following the trade down with Jacksonville. “He is a DNA match for our defense,” Berry said. “Disruptive interior penetrator. I think he can really affect the pocket from inside. [He’s a] high motor player, really physical, really tough. We thought he was one of the more dominant trench prospects in this year's class.” Graham was a two-time All-American and two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Wolverines. Graham will get a chance to chase down Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. “Cleveland picked me for a reason, so obviously you want me to take those guys down,” Graham said. “So that's my main agenda.” In 39 games for the Wolverines, which included 27 starts, Graham amassed 18 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery and three batted passes. “He's a perfect fit,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Really just the way his skillset, the way he gets off the ball, the way he's able to disrupt is exactly what we do now. He did that sometimes, maybe not all the time. There is some two gapping in Michigan system, but you saw plenty of times where when he goes he goes and just great balance, great ability to be disruptive, make plays in the run game, in the pass game. Those interior rushers are really valuable in the scheme.”
Let’s make a deal – The Browns passed on Colorado receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter and traded the second pick in the draft to Jacksonville. “We just felt like it was a fantastic opportunity for our organization to move down three spots, still get a top notch prospect in the trenches, adding a pick and what we view as really the sweet spot for this year's draft class and then adding a first round pick next year in a class that, quite frankly we think will be a bit stronger in the first 30 picks,” Berry said. Cleveland received the fifth overall pick, No. 36 overall in round two, No. 126 overall in the fourth round and Jacksonville’s 2026 first round pick. The Browns also sent their fourth-round pick, No. 104 and a sixth rounder – No. 200 to the Jaguars. “We'll have five picks in the top 104, thee of those in the top 36, and then really over a two-year time span, we will have five top 36 picks and probably six top 50 picks. So that's quite an opportunity for us to add young players to the roster or to use those resources, whether it's for veteran player or generate other resources over the next 24 months.” Stefanski understood the decision to trade down. “Obviously, that's a big trade for this organization and what we're able to get back in the picks that you're able to get back, it can set you up and we still get a really, really good player that we all are excited about adding to our team on top of that,” Stefanski said. “So it's something that it's exciting for us obviously until it's done, it's not done. So got on the clock there and consummated the trade, but excited to add Mason to this team and excited to add some picks as well.”
No thanks – The Jaguars selected dynamic Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter with the No. 2 pick following the trade with Cleveland. Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter went third overall to the Giants. “Actually I think that there's probably more than one or two top prospects in the draft,” Berry said. “And by nature, even if you select someone at two, you're going to pass on a good, by definition, you're going to pass on a good player. There's more than one good player in every draft. And for us to be able to add multiple premier prospects over a longer time horizon, we think that will allow us to build a stronger team.” The bottom line is Berry elected to pass on the two most elite players in this draft class. Historically, that has yielded disastrous results for the franchise but they seem confident history will not repeat itself here.
Why the move – This trade was multifaceted. The Browns are not contenders right now. Berry acquiring a second 2026 first rounder gives the franchise ammunition to make a big move next April, for a potential franchise quarterback, not believed to be available this year.
Let’s make a deal PT. II – The Browns and Texans completed a day 3 trade Thursday afternoon prior to the Draft opening. Cleveland sent two sixth round picks – Nos. 179 and 26 – along with the seventh rounder – No. 255 overall – to Houston for No. 166 overall in round five plus a 2027 fifth round selection.