Calls Mount for Browns to Fire GM After Trading No. 2 Pick

The Cleveland Browns traded the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, making a blockbuster deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry is known for stockpiling draft capital, and he did just that with the move. Cleveland dealt the No. 2 pick to the Jaguars and in return received a significant haul: the No. 5 overall pick, a second-rounder (No. 36), a fourth-rounder (No. 126), and Jacksonville’s 2026 first-round pick. 

The Browns also included a pair of picks in the deal, sending No. 104 (fourth round) and No. 200 (sixth round) to Jacksonville.

By trading the pick, Cleveland missed out on two-way superstar Travis Hunter, who many saw as the best player in the draft. The Jaguars snagged Hunter with the pick.

While the move sets the Browns up with significant potential, some fans were unhappy with Berry for trading away the right to bring Hunter to Cleveland.

"Once in a lifetime player…. Trades back. Classic," one fan said.

Another added: "Andrew Berry is a moron."

Some went as far as to call for the Browns to fire Berry for the trade.

"Andrew Berry needs fired before the night is over," one fan demanded.

Another said, "Fire Andrew Berry. Worst GM in the NFL. LOSER FRANCHISE."

There was speculation that the Browns might trade down again from the No. 5 pick, but they stood pat and selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, solidifying their defensive front with one of the draft’s top interior linemen.

Andrew Berry just calmed Browns fans after Travis Hunter trade backlash

e Cleveland Browns may have lost their fanbase a bit on Thursday night after the team selected Mason Graham at fifth overall. Of course, they didn't begin the night selecting there. They were set to pick at No. 2 overall, and many around the league felt that pick would likely be used on Travis Hunter, the dual-threat athlete out of Colorado.

But, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the eventual deal that landed the Browns the fifth overall pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars (and a whole lot of other picks from them) was in the works for weeks. This was seemingly always the plan for the Browns, who had visited with Graham earlier in the month.

General manager Andrew Berry, who is going to keep catching heat for this move, had a chance to explain the move to media after the pick was made. And, truth be told, he had an explanation that made a ton of sense.

Berry's explanation for taking Graham adds up

Berry explained to reporters on Thursday night that the Graham pick came down to the simple fact that he and others in the front office viewed him as a "DNA match" for the team's already stout defense and line.

Graham was a wrecking ball on the D-line while with Michigan, and was the cut and dry best defender on that team. He also separated himself as the best defensive lineman in the draft, period. Compared to Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, it's clear that Graham has the potential to start Day 1 thanks to his power and ability to make game-changing plays on the line.

As for Berry's comment on next year's first round being stronger, it's obvious he's hinting at the teams' potential desire to target a franchise quarterback then. With two first rounders under their belt for 2026, they're almost guaranteed to land a talented quarterback prospect when the time comes.

For now, they seem happy to either run the season through with Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett at the helm, or with a rookie quarterback - if they even take one, given these comments.

They've said in recent weeks that they're unwilling to reach for a quarterback in this draft, so it feels more likely that they'll go for building out their trenches, running back room, and potentially their secondary before going for a signal caller.