Redrafting the 2018 NFL Draft: What if Browns had Andrew Berry then?

The Cleveland Browns recently signed general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski to contract extensions, furthering the hope in Northeast Ohio that the team may finally have consistency, and competency, in the front office.

Having a reliable duo in place now makes you think — how would the team have been built differently if they were in place earlier? I thought it would be a great exercise to look at the very impactful 2018 NFL Draft, led by John Dorsey for the Browns, and see how things could have potentially played out differently with the current regime at the helm.

Berry, Stefanski, and this analytical, Ivy League front office typically value two main things above all else in their draft picks: youth and athleticism. The younger the prospect and the higher the Relative Athletic Score (RAS), the more likely they are to become a Cleveland Brown.

Using these drafting "guardrails" we take a look at an option at each spot that the Browns were on the clock in the 2018 NFL Draft that would have been a more likely target under Berry and company.

We start at the very top of the draft with the first overall pick.

1. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Browns original pick: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

The original pick here was obviously Baker Mayfield, who enjoyed a thrilling rookie season in Cleveland but failed to prove himself as the long-term face of the franchise. Former general manager John Dorsey tabbed "buddy boy" as the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, but I find it hard to believe that Berry and Stefanski would have done the same.

I think the decision likely would have come down to USC's Sam Darnold and Wyoming's Josh Allen. Both were younger than Mayfield entering the draft and each had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Ultimately, I think this front office would have bet on the size, athleticism, arm strength, and untapped potential of Allen. Sure, hindsight is 20/20 with Allen being the most successful of the guys in consideration atop the first round (Lamar Jackson has arguably been more successful, but I don't think he would've realistically been considered with the first pick), but many thought he could've been the target for the Browns at the time and I have faith that this regime would have made the selection and had a plan in place to get Allen to a similar level to what he is currently playing at for the Bills.

4. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Browns original pick: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Despite some injury and availability concerns throughout his NFL career to this point, Denzel Ward has proven to be worthy of the top-five selection the Cleveland Browns used on him in the 2018 NFL Draft.

While there were a few other enticing options available with the fourth overall pick such as Bradley Chubb, Quenton Nelson, Roquan Smith, and Mike McGlinchey, Ward brought the hometown flare to Cleveland. The Nordonia Knight and Ohio State Buckeye quickly became a fan favorite and has maintained a Pro Bowl level of play with the Browns and with his age and athleticism entering the draft he would have been right up the alley of Berry, Stefanski, and company as well.

33. James Daniels, OL, Iowa

Browns original pick: Austin Corbett, OL, Nevada

The original selection with this pick was Austin Corbett, a versatile offensive lineman out of Nevada. While Browns fans hoped he would find a home (and a similar level of success) to another Nevada lineman and Cleveland great Joel Bitonio, Corbett never really came into his own with the franchise. After leaving Cleveland, Corbett has found some success with the Rams and more recently, the Panthers, but I don't think he would have been the original target for the current front office.

Corbett was 23 years old entering the draft, older than what the current regime typically targets early in drafts. Although he was fairly athletic, I think the Browns would have targeted a different versatile lineman in James Daniels.

Daniels was just 20 years old coming out of Iowa with a very impressive 9.24 Relative Athletic Score (RAS). Daniels would have been able to come in and start right away at center, while still allowing that guard flexibility as well.

35. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Browns original pick: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

There's no way I could go in any other direction with this pick. While there were younger and more athletic options at running back in the 2018 NFL Draft, Nick Chubb was still 22 years old and had a 9.16 RAS. Everything the current front office has said when bragging about Chubb was true about him from the jump as a rookie and as a prospect coming out of Georgia. I think this regime would have recognized the player and teammate that Chubb could become in Cleveland and would have selected him, too, if they were in charge.

67. Fred Warner, LB, BYU

Browns original pick: Chad Thomas, DE, Miami

The original 67th overall pick, Chad Thomas, was the first true "bust" for the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Miami defensive end showed some flashes here and there, but failed to bring it all together and play consistently in Cleveland.

Instead, I think this front office would have targeted a player who went off the board just three picks later with BYU linebacker Fred Warner. Warner was just 21 years old entering the league with impressive athleticism (9.68 RAS). The Browns needed linebacker help at the time and with his age, size, and athleticism he would have been a perfect target for Andrew Berry.

105. Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State

Browns original pick: Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida

Instead of landing a defensive end early in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, they wait until the fourth round and take a stab at another high-upside pass rusher with Josh Sweat out of Florida State.

Sweat was 21 years old entering the draft with a whopping 9.71 RAS. Sweat was fairly productive as a Seminole and showed the athletic upside this regime values in an edge defender. Landing Sweat instead of Thomas a full round later would have been huge for the Browns.

150. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, USF

Browns original pick: Genard Avery, LB, Memphis

Instead of a different wide receiver with their last selection or the original pick here at 150, this regime targets another young and athletic prospect to add to Stefanski's offense. Antonio Callaway struggled a bit on the field and mightily off of it and Genard Avery showed some upside but struggled to carve out a specific role in Cleveland.

We have seen some flashes of what Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been able to do, primarily as a deep threat, in the NFL, and showed all the signs of being that type of player coming out of South Florida. At 6-foot-4 and running a 4.37 forty-yard dash, "MVS" would have been a great addition to this Josh Allen-led offense under head coach Kevin Stefanski.

175. Foley Fatukasi, DT, UConn

Browns original pick: Damion Ratley, WR, Texas A&M

Damion Ratley rarely found the field for the Browns, finding himself on the bubble of the roster in 2018 and 2019 before moving on to the Giants. Drafting a solid depth piece on the defensive line instead of another wide receiver seems like a more likely option for the current front office. Foley Fatukasi earned an 8.57 RAS at 315 pounds, which would have Berry, Stefanski, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz licking their chops.

188. Jordan Mailata, OT, Rugby/Australia

Browns original pick: Simeon Thomas, CB, Louisiana

Jordan Mailata is a player who would have had Andrew Berry written all over him. Despite having never played American football prior to the 2018 NFL Draft, Mailata's size, athleticism, and rugby experience made him a polarizing option for all 32 NFL teams.

If a team thought they had the coaching staff to take this giant piece of clay and mold it into a starting NFL offensive tackle, a sixth-round pick wouldn't be crazy to spend on a guy like Mailata. Particularly if we are operating under the assumption that Cleveland has Bill Callahan as their offensive line coach as they did when this regime took over, Cleveland would have been a team with enough confidence to take a stab at a talented and athletic tackle prospect like Mailata.

They even showed interest in a former rugby star just this offseason prior to the draft, so the idea that they would entertain taking a guy like Mailata in the sixth round is certainly not out of the question, with potentially huge dividends.

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