When Andrew Berry took over as Cleveland Browns general manager in 2020, there was significant work to be done with the roster. In order to get the Browns moving in a positive direction, rounds four through seven were going to become crucial to achieving long-term success. Day 3 is where rosters are built on the cheap by adding rotational pieces, special-teams aces, and the occasional developing starter. Through six drafts (2020-25), Berry has drafted 24 players in these rounds. It was a bit of a rollercoaster at the start, but there has been marked improvement as he has grown into the role.
Berry is getting sharper at turning late picks into contributors, and his timing couldn’t be better.
Andrew Berry’s Evolution: How Day 3 of the NFL Draft is Changing the Cleveland Browns
Mixed Results
In his first three attempts at the draft, Berry’s Day 3 track record was spotty. The 2020 haul delivered much-needed immediate value. Harrison Bryant (fourth round) earned All-Rookie honors and became a reliable receiving tight end. Nick Harris (fifth) has stuck as a versatile center backup. Donovan Peoples-Jones (sixth) emerged as a productive receiver and returner before a trade. At the time, most didn’t view this as a third day to add in the ‘win’ column, but with 20/20 vision, it’s clear Berry did well on his first attempt.
Then came the struggles…
The 2021 class produced mostly misses. James Hudson and Tommy Togiai never developed into reliable contributors, while Richard LeCounte and Demetric Felton barely lasted. Tony Fields carved out a special-teams role, but that was the high point. The 2022 group fared only marginally better. Jerome Ford (fifth) became a legitimate starting running back and 1,000-yard rusher as a spot starter. Yet Cade York (fourth) flamed out at kicker, Perrion Winfrey carried off-field baggage out the door, and Michael Woods, Isaiah Thomas, and Dawson Deaton generated minimal impact. By the end of 2022, Berry’s ability to select quality late-round talent had become a very obvious question mark.
The Bounce Back
The turning point arrived in 2023. Berry landed two immediately impactful players in the fourth round in offensive tackle Dawand Jones and defensive end Isaiah McGuire. Dawand has shown flashes despite injuries, while edge rusher Isaiah McGuire has developed into a rotational run-stopper. Cameron Mitchell (fifth) emerged as a dependable slot corner and special-teams staple before eventually being cut in 2025 due to falling down the depth chart. Luke Wypler (sixth) flashed promise at center before the injuries slowed him. It was Berry’s strongest Day 3 class to date.
In 2024, fifth-round receiver Jamari Thrash earned playing time, sixth-round linebacker Nathaniel Watson contributed on coverage units, and seventh-round corner Myles Harden stepped into the slot role, starting regularly during the 2025 season. The 2025 class is a bit early to grade, but the early feedback is promising, with fourth-round running back Dylan Sampson flashing in the rookie backfield rotation and fifth-round quarterback Shedeur Sanders with the upside of possibly being a starting option.
Berry’s ability to find value later in the draft is trending in the right direction.
Making Advancements
What changed? From the outside looking in, it appears process and patience are the difference. Early on, Berry occasionally reached for specialists or would take the occasional swing at what might be considered a higher risk. More recently, he has targeted athletic, scheme-fit players at positions of need while becoming more risk-averse. I estimate his hit rate at nearly 40 percent. Of course, the obvious crucial caveat being that it’s subjective to what each individual views. The criteria, when it comes to determining what it means for a pick to be a success, are for independent opinion. However, it appears that his ability to find quality talent on Day 3 headed in the right direction at the right time.
For a franchise operating under salary-cap pressure, that improvement matters a great deal. Berry’s recent successes, like Ford, Jones, McGuire, Harden, and Sampson, have quietly become foundational pieces without premium price tags. As the Browns look ahead to the 2026 draft, armed with a great deal of high-end draft capital, having Andrew at the top of his game throughout the entire three days can bring in the kind of haul that the Browns can use to set the table for 2027, when the time comes to potentially draft a franchise signal caller.
