The Cleveland Browns have gone from confusing to downright undecipherable during the 2025 NFL Draft. Trading down from the No. 2 overall pick initially seemed smart if the plan was to find a quarterback in a later year. Stockpiling assets made sense in that scenario.
However, with veteran quarterback Joe Flacco already on the roster, Cleveland added Dillon Gabriel with the 94th overall pick. Then, to make matters even more confusing, they drafted Shedeur Sanders at No. 144. All these moves left general manager Andrew Berry with plenty to explain.
Andrew Berry Explains the Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel Situation
Over the last few weeks, Berry’s comments have often seemed contradictory. His pre-draft words didn’t fully align with his eventual actions — a tactic, perhaps, to keep the Browns’ intentions under wraps.
Still, adding two rookie quarterbacks within 50 picks of each other — in the third and fifth rounds — was a tough sell. Speaking to reporters at a draft media session, Berry tried to explain his reasoning.
“I guess, we wouldn’t necessarily criticize it as dramatic, Daryl. Just like I could probably say that the plan wasn’t to take two running backs — you envision how the draft will play out, and then you really adjust to what’s on the board.”
For Berry, avoiding mistakes was the bigger priority.
“We don’t really go into the draft saying like, ‘Hey, here are our needs and we’re just gonna pick players at need positions.’ If you do that, that’s typically how you make mistakes.”
Asked Andrew Berry what led to the dramatic change of plans to draft QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders #Browns #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/OtrLgWS7Lv
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) April 26, 2025
Instead, Cleveland emphasized flexibility.
“There is a little bit of a flow to the weekend because the board does take different twists and turns as you go. Ultimately, we try and do everything in our power to maximize the impact of the picks we have in aggregate. And part of the reason you have to do that is being flexible.”
At Colorado’s Pro Day, Berry had praised both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, even suggesting he wanted both players in the draft. Yet, when the moment came, Berry traded the pick containing Hunter to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Later, with multiple chances to select Sanders, the Browns passed — until they finally grabbed him late. At one point, Berry hinted that fit was an issue when it came to Sanders, and praised Gabriel as a “really strong, really, really good prospect.”
When Sanders remained available after Day 2, Berry was more complimentary.
“Shedeur Sanders is an impressive young man and a really good QB. He has a ton of resolve, and I think he’s going to find himself in a really good spot.”
Now, that “good spot” turns out to be in Cleveland — joining a suddenly crowded quarterback room. With Flacco, Gabriel, and Sanders all in the mix, it’s going to take some creative maneuvering from head coach Kevin Stefanski to figure out what’s next.
