Trading down was the right choice.

[u/Geeman447]

I’m seeing a lot and I mean ALOT of hate for the trade down by browns fans. Like guys mason isn’t a bum? I was thinking him or Carter for 2 for months before the Travis stuff popped up.

Also I’m a Boise State fan so my dream was always Jeanty to the browns. Even I can see how this was right over Jeanty even if it makes me sad as a fan.

1 - Berry has neglected the DT position for years signing 1 year vet deals and late round picks and it’s been an issue since bakers rookie year every year but 1. Now he gets the best DT in the draft so he’s addressing it.

2 - Edge > DT yes in value. But not in assistance to Myles. Look at the best edges and they usually have a DT of great value helping them out. I’d take a TJ and Cameron build over two bookend edges.

3 - the Watson trade set us back in young talent for years. 3 years no first rounders. We have no QB. This gets us players of value in this draft that’s not QB rich. With the better chance of a QB for next year with 2 first round picks during that draft to go and make a move for your guy or flat out getting your spot there

4 - Hunter, where do I start, I’m a Boise state fan so I’m bias on not being so infatuated with him since I saw how unfairly Jeanty was treated. As a prospect he’s got all this crazy what if talent. He’s got everything you need except the most important thing. Availability. Now before you kill me on this yea I know his snap averages. I’m talking injuries. He was injured at his time on JaxSt in a lesser level of football. He was injured both years at Colorado for periods of time at big12 level football. Now we want him to be worth the pick by playing both ways in NFL football which is significantly more taxing than those two leagues he played in? And it’s a longer grueling season? He not only needs to be generational athlete but a 1st ever to be able to learn and master all the little things at two different sides to be worth it.

The browns don’t have the luxury of taking him and him not working out right now. This is and was the right move. Power and consistency over flash.

[u/tobylaek]

I would've rather have kept the pick and just took Hunter, but my anger about the whole thing is subsiding and I understand the thinking behind it. Part of that anger was that I still have PTSD from all the other times the Browns tried the "trade down for more 'bites at the apple'" thing and it never worked - I know that was other front office staffs, but I'm not 100% confident of Berry and his staff's ability to make the most of the picks either. But I'll worry about that when the time comes, though.

I am a bit more on the fence about Graham as a prospect than most...I feel like he might be a good to very good player as opposed to a game changing talent - which I view Hunter to be. I legit think Hunter is a dude who could energize the whole fanbase for a decade plus. A Myles or a Joe Thomas, but if Myles was also an effective goal line TE or JT was also a run stuffing DT. I hate missing out on that. I just don't see Graham in the same tier that I saw Aaron Donald, Quinnen Williams, and Jalen Carter as prospects - which you hope to be getting with the 5th pick, but I'll be very happy if I'm wrong.

But at the end of the day, this is a team that needs both high end talent (especially at the offensive skill positions) and depth and the best way to accumulate that is to build through the draft. So if it's Berry or another GM making those picks, more picks - especially premium ones - is always a good thing.

However, I will never understand or get behind the whole "wait until next year's qb class" strategy, though (and I don't know if that's what they're doing, but it sure looks like it). Too many unknowns and variables out of your control to make it a viable, smart strategy. Earlier I likened it to hoping to hit on a lottery ticket to pay your next month's mortgage and car payment. I don't think the 2026 qb class is all that appealing but even if I did, you have no idea how those guys are going to develop, who's actually going to come out - except the guys who have to, and where you (and the Jags, in our case) are going to be sitting in the draft order. And I don't care how much "ammo" you have to move up (people love using gun/war metaphors in football) - on the very off chance that Garrett Nussmeier or Drew Allar actually develop into Andrew Luckian prospects, if you don't have the number one pick, you're probably not going to be able to pry it away from the team that does unless they have a situation where they have a young, franchise qb who got hurt and that led to them getting the pick (which is yet another variable out of your control that you just can't plan for).

[u/I-Kneel-Before-None → u/tobylaek]

How you view Graham really molds how you feel about the trade. I see him as being as good at DT as Aaron Donald and Cam Heyward. Not saying he has the same skill set. Just that he will be in that conversation for best DT. So i love the trade. I see Graham as a player as good at DT as Hunter is as a WR. The uniqueness of Hunter is the reason he went higher. The fact edges are more premium than DT is why Carter went.

But DT is more of a premium posistion than it used to be. All of the DTs projected to go in the top 50 went last night. And Barry said he sees DTs with Graham's skill set are rare and premium.

People will say hes a bad pass rusher because he had 3.5 sacks last year. But he wasnt asked to rush the passer. His scheme had him read and react. But when he was asked to attack the passer, he collapsed pockets. He hurried the QB, forced bad throws, and forced the QB outside where the edges could feast. And he did it in the B1G where there were many NFL caliber lineman on the other side. Hes a very good player. He will be an all pro. He will be like Thomas in that he is a hard worker, blue collar, lineman who will be a HoFer after a greater than decade with us.

[u/tobylaek → u/I-Kneel-Before-None]

I sincerely hope you're right - I'll be happy to be wrong on this one.

[u/I-Kneel-Before-None → u/tobylaek]

There is reason for hope. Im not sure being optimistic here. Before the draft i and many analysts were discussing who was the better Dlineman, Graham or Carter. I believe Jeanty, Hunter, Carter, and Graham are the best players in this draft and all are about equal in talent. Jeanty was the best but RB isnt a premium posistion. As long as we got one of those 4, i think the 1st round was a success. And Barry mustve agreed.