Browns Need More Draft Picks to Contend

0:00On March 22nd, Cleveland Brown's fans often hear General Manager Andrew Berry stressed the importance of building through the NFL draft, yet data from the last five seasons shows the team ranks 23rd in the league with just 37 total picks from 2021 to 2025. Their average draft position sits 8th at a 124.5, which is solid, but the low volume limits their chances to find stars. Meanwhile, the 10 winning his teams over that span include 8 in the top half for draft picks used. Success stories prove them more selections, even later ones, fuel contention. The Browns lean heavy on day two picks, 4th most in the league, but they have the second fewest first rounders and ranked 22nd in day three. Choices Fans grow skeptical, which trades like the one for guard Titus Howard, which cost the 5th round pick. These argue they could have signed a similar player and free agency and kept that valuable asset, a young prospect on a cheat four year deal.

1:01Hits like those are rare but game changing. Recent examples highlight the upside, such as the San Francisco 49ers with quarterback Brock Purdy on a 7th round contract, or the Lose. Angelus Rams featuring Wider Seever Puka Nakua from the 5th round. Berry's pattern of trading picks for veterans raises alarms amid the team's struggles. As the draft nears, the path forward is straight forward. Berry needs to hoard picks, not spend them. Start piling more shots at talent offers the best shots to climb out of the basement and build a contender.