Check out how the picks Andrew Berry and the Browns made in 2023 NFL Draft have panned out after two seasons.AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio — As Andrew Berry and the Browns get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft, which may be the most consequential of his tenure as Cleveland’s general manager, we’re looking back at each of his previous five drafts to see how he’s done.

We’ll examine each of the picks Berry and the Browns made, pick a player or two who could have been better choices at those slots and who would also have been worse than the player they selected.

Our series continues today as we look at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Like the 2022 draft, the Browns did not have a first-round pick because of the Deshaun Watson trade, and they also traded out of the second round.

Were they able to find some good players without an early pick?

Here is our look back at how the Browns did in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Third round, 74th overall: WR Cedric Tillman

The Browns didn’t go on the clock until the 74th pick in the draft, and they used it to select the big receiver from Tennessee.

Tillman had a quiet rookie season in 2023 with 21 catches for 224 yards.

But he picked things up more in 2024 with 29 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. He had three consecutive games of 75 yards receiving, including catching seven passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns from Jameis Winston against the Ravens.

Unfortunately for Tillman and the Browns, he suffered a season-ending concussion in Week 12 vs. the Steelers.

Who could have been a better pick?

Three different receivers who were picked after Tillman already have 1,000 or more yards. Tight end Tucker Kraft (1,062 yards, nine touchdowns) went to the Packers at 78, the Colts took Josh Downs (1,574 yards, seven TDs) at 79 and the Cardinals used the 94th pick on Michael Wilson (1,113 yards, seven TDs). The Dolphins also selected running back De’Von Achane at 84.

The Rams in particular made some great picks after Tillman went off the board, selecting a pair of impact defenders in Byron Young at pick 77 and Kobie Turner at pick 89. Both players have at least 15 sacks already.

Who could have been a worse pick?

The Panthers traded up to pick 80 to select linebacker DJ Johnson. He has started just five of 27 games played in two seasons and has 60 tackles.

The Lions and Commanders used the 96th and 97th picks respectively to selected defensive tackle Brodric Martin and offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg. They have combined to play just nine games.

Grade: C-plus

Tillman was a guy who came from a relatively basic offense in Tennessee and needed a season to adjust to the more complex schemes in the NFL. He looked like he was about to take that step in 2024, particularly when Winston was playing quarterback, prior to his concussion.

But what hurts this grade is that so many players picked after Tillman have already been very productive in the NFL.

It’s not an indictment of Tillman, who looks like he could be a starter. However, he was clearly a player who needed time before he was ready for consistent work. That just means he has to play catch-up, and he was hurt by the issues of the passing game early in 2024.

Third round, 98th overall: DT Siaki Ika

With Jim Schwartz coming to Cleveland that season as defensive coordinator, the Browns sought to improve the interior of their defensive line. One thing they did to try and address it was by selecting the big Baylor defensive tackle.

However, Ika was a non-factor as a rookie, appearing in four games and never recording a statistic.

The Browns cut him after training camp in 2024, and he did not play a down in 2024.

Who could have been a better pick?

Early in Day 3, the Raiders selected Maryland cornerback Jakorian Bennett at pick 104. He has appeared in 24 games, recording 58 solo tackles and 11 pass breakups.

The Seahawks selected LSU guard Anthony Bradford with the 108th pick in the draft, and he has been a player Seattle has leaned on to start numerous games. Bradford has played in 25 games in his two seasons, starting 21 of them.

Who could have been a worse pick?

The 49ers picked Alabama tight end Cameron Latu at pick 101. He has yet to appear in a single NFL game.

Grade: F

Ika was a player I wasn’t high on after a very poor performance at the NFL combine. But I understood the rationale of the pick.

That said, Ika might be the worst pick of Berry’s tenure considering he barely played, and he never contributed to an NFL statsheet.

Fourth round, 111th overall: T Dawand Jones

The former Ohio State Buckeye was expected to be a second-round pick in 2024. But Jones fell out of Day 2 entirely until the Browns could not possibly pass on him, and they selected him at pick 111.

Jones had to slide into the starting lineup in his second NFL game, and he did very well at right tackle before suffering a season-ending torn MCL.

He struggled to get back into form in 2024 and was also lost for the season in November due to a fractured ankle. He started eight games, including two at left tackle.

Who could have been a better pick?

This is an instance where there wasn’t much better the Browns could have done between this selection and the next one they made at pick 126.

However, the Chiefs also got themselves a valuable defensive contributor in defensive back Chamarri Conner at 119. He has started 16 of 32 regular season games played in two seasons, and he has 89 solo tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble and five pass breakups.

Who could have been a worse pick?

The Patriots used the following pick on kicker Chad Ryland. He had a bad 2023 in New England, and the Patriots cut him prior to the start of the 2024 season. He signed with Arizona and really improved, hitting 87.5% of his kicks, including a 58-yard attempt.

The Commanders used the 118th pick on offensive lineman Braeden Daniels. Washington cut him prior to the start of his rookie season, and he has yet to play a regular season snap in the NFL.

Grade: B

Jones’ rookie season was really good. But he took a step back in 2024 as did most of the Browns offense as he had a hard time coming back from his injury.

2025 will be an important year for Jones. He may have to start at left tackle, although he did play well given the opportunity. Jones will need to come to camp ready to hit the ground running to prove he can be a piece the Browns can lean on up front.

That said, to get a starting level tackle in the fourth round is a good job for Berry.

Fourth round, 126th overall: DE Isaiah McGuire

With the second of their two fourth-round picks, the Browns addressed the other line by selecting Missouri edge rusher Isaiah McGuire. He had a hard time seeing the field as a rookie with so many veterans blocking his path to playing time.

But 2024 was a much busier year for McGuire. He appeared in 16 games, starting three, and his playing time shot up after the Browns dealt Za’Darius Smith to the Lions.

McGuire responded well to the extra opportunity, recording 2.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in a largely rotational role. He has also been an analytics darling, earning a PFF grade of 83.3, which is 11th best among edge rushers.

Who could have been a better pick?

The next edge rusher off the board went to the Steelers at pick 132 in Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig. He has already produced well with 8.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 30 games played.

Who could have been a worse pick?

A pair of players taken back-to-back, 128th pick Stetson Bennett IV and 129th pick Viliami Fehoko, have yet to take an NFL snap.

The Colts took South Carolina defensive back Darius Rush at pick 138 and cut him prior to the start of the 2023 season. He has played five NFL games, all with the Steelers over the course of the last two seasons, and has recorded three total tackles and a pass breakup. He is currently on the Chiefs practice squad.

Grade: B-plus

McGuire has proven he can be a very disruptive player off the edge, particularly with his eight TFLs and three forced fumbles in 2024. He should certainly have an opportunity to compete for a starting job in 2025 opposite Myles Garrett.

While we still have to see whether McGuire and Jones will be long-term starters or more rotational players who can start when needed, the fact that these two players have been productive to this level is a good job by Berry.

Fifth round, 140th overall: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson

The Browns sought to add a young quarterback to their roster by selecting the experienced dual-threat quarterback from UCLA. Thompson-Robinson looked like he had great potential following a great preseason.

But that hasn’t translated when given opportunities. In 15 games, five of which he started, Thompson-Robinson has completed just 52.6% of his passes for 880 yards, one touchdown and 10 interceptions.

He played in seven games in 2024, and he threw for just 440 yards and six INTs.

Who could have been a better pick?

The Browns had picks 140 and 142 in this draft, but there was one player they clearly missed on along with the rest of the NFL.

The Rams selected BYU receiver Puka Nacua 177th overall, and he became an impact player the second he stepped onto the field. Nacua has 184 receptions for 2,476 yards and nine touchdowns for the Rams, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023.

Who could have been a worse pick?

None of the quarterbacks taken after DTR have really panned out more than a flash appearance or two. The Packers drafted Penn State’s Sean Clifford 149th overall, and he has yet to throw an NFL pass.

BYU’s Jaren Hall went to the Vikings at pick 164. He appeared in just three games in 2023, starting two, and the Vikings cut him prior to the 2024 season. TCU quarterback Max Duggan was selected by the Chargers with the 239th pick, and he has not played a single NFL snap.

The one who has played well when given an opportunity is Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee, who was picked 188th overall. He started in Week 18 vs. the Giants and was 27 of 41 passing for 269 yards and two TDs. McKee has played just two career games, and he has four TD passes to no interceptions.

Grade: D-minus

What keeps this grade from being an F is that Thompson-Robinson did help the Browns win a key game when he led them to a 13-10 victory vs. the Steelers in Week 11 in 2023. But Thompson-Robinson has not shown that he can do much in the NFL.

The athletic ability is intriguing, but Thompson-Robinson simply has not been able to slow the game down as a passer and the TD-to-INT ratio is simply not good enough.

Fifth round, 142nd overall: CB Cameron Mitchell

Two picks after the Browns selected Thompson-Robinson, they went back to helping their secondary by picking the former Northwestern corner.

Mitchell has mostly been a rotational corner, but he has been very active in games. He has appeared in 30 games, including four starts.

He has 42 tackles, 32 of which are solos, and four pass breakups.

Who could have been a better pick?

The Bengals found their eventual lead running back at pick No. 163 by selecting Illinois’ Chase Brown. He took the lead spot in 2024 and played well, rushing 229 times for 990 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 54 passes for 360 yards and four TDs.

Another solid offensive player went off the board earlier when the Packers picked Virginia receiver Dontayvion Wicks at 159. Wicks has put up solid numbers as a depth receiver in Green Bay, catching 78 passes for 996 yards and nine TDs.

Who could have been a worse pick?

Cal safety Daniel Scott was selected by the Colts with the 158th overall pick, and he has yet to appear in an NFL game. The same can be said for Southern Miss defensive back Eric Scott, who went to the Cowboys at pick No. 178.

Grade: B-minus

While Mitchell may not be a full-time starter in the NFL, he’s proven that he can at least be a solid nickel or dime corner. To get that kind of player in the fifth round is pretty good value for the Browns.

However, considering the issues the Browns have had with finding skill players and seeing Chase Brown and Puka Nacua go off the board after them, it hurts this grade a little bit considering the surplus the Browns have had at corner.

That said, if I’m just judging the player itself, this is a pretty solid pick by the Browns.

Sixth round, 190th overall: C Luke Wypler

The Browns completed their 2023 draft by selecting Wypler, their second Ohio State offensive lineman of the day after taking Dawand Jones early in the fourth round.

Health has been a big story for Wypler as his 2024 season was lost early in the preseason due to a broken ankle. In total, Wypler has appeared in only five games in the NFL, starting one.

Who could have been a better pick?

Several sixth-round receivers have had some solid production early in their NFL careers. Demario Douglas went from Liberty to the Patriots with the 210th pick, and he has 115 receptions for 1,182 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bengals went to the Ivy League to select Andrei Iosivas with the 206th pick, and he has 10 touchdown catches in two seasons.

Who could have been a worse pick?

The Buccaneers selected Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jose Ramirez with the 196th pick. He has had a hard time finding the field, appearing in four games over two seasons and he has yet to record a stat.

The Jaguars used the 208th overall pick to select Pittsburgh DB Erick Hallett, and he has yet to play an NFL snap.

Grade: Incomplete

Wypler was meant to be a future pick and a potential heir apparent to Ethan Pocic at center. But with Wypler missing the entire 2024 season and not seeing the field much as a rookie, it’s hard to give this anything but an incomplete.

The question for Wypler will be if he can work himself into a steady backup role at the minimum in the NFL.

Overall grade: B-minus

Andrew Berry clearly did better in this draft than in 2022 when it comes to Day 3. His fourth round in 2022 was just bad, and getting a likely starter at tackle and a potential starter at defensive end is very good work.

I’m still high on Tillman, and I think he has a chance to continue that upward trajectory in 2025 as he recovers from his season-ending concussion.

This draft isn’t without its warts. The Siaki Ika pick is one of the worst, if not the worst, of Berry’s tenure, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson did not develop in his second season.

But to get three potential starters from a draft without a pick in the second round is still a decent job.