The Cleveland Browns have a lot of work to do on their roster but their needs seem to be focused in specific areas. The team’s offensive line, running back group and secondary all have high-level talent and more depth than most in the league and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jacob Phillips could create the fastest linebacker duo in some time.
The bigger needs and transitions will be on the defensive line and offensive side of the ball (offensive line seems to be the exception).
The Browns currently would go into free agency with around $30 million in cap space. Before they get to the NFL draft, the team could fill some of their needs, and possibly create others, through trades and signings.
The direction of the draft will take shape after that.
Thankfully, Cleveland has a good deal of draft capital to work with:
which teams have the most draft capital to spend on players in the 2022 NFL Draft?
#1 – NYJ (all front loaded, no picks after the 5th round)
#2 – PHI
#3 – NYG
#4 – JAX
#5 – DETfull listing of total draft value & every pick for all 32 teams (includes comp picks, see note) pic.twitter.com/sHK9Urd4dk
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 23, 2022
With an extra compensatory pick expected in the third round, thanks to Minnesota hiring Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and an extra fourth-round pick from a trade last year, the Browns have some flexibility.
Andrew Berry could use those picks to package for players or to move up in the draft at different points. He could also use picks from this year to get even higher picks in next year’s draft.
A good amount of capital for the team to improve the roster in a variety of ways. Now, Berry and company must use that capital wisely.