Off-season thoughts (Vol. XXIV)

Unless Andrew Berry has plans to the contrary that he's keeping to himself at this time, looks as though he and Browns Nation will be spectators for the opening round of the National Football League's college draft Thursday night.

One of those plans deals with trading back into the round if a certain player he absolutely must have drops to where the general manager can craft a package to bring him to Cleveland. Odds on that are minimal at best. But ya never know.

So rather than get excited about the possibility of the Browns selecting a player in a draft that isn't  bursting at the seams with rock solid, can't-miss early talent, this sure looks like it is going to be an exercise in getting lucky.

In his two seasons in the big chair at draft time, it's difficult to pin down Berry as a best-player-available guy or one seeking to fill a need. But when your first pick on day two is 44 selections into the lottery, it's fairly safe to assume Berry's journey will be need-based.

As previously noted here, the Browns clearly need help at wide receiver and along the defensive line. Quality depth among the receiving corps suggests that's the direction Berry will head at 44 before addressing other areas with his (for now) seven picks.

Along the way -- and because his last three picks (round six and seven) arrive well into day three Saturday -- Berry is likely to flip on his trade switch and attempt to maneuver back into day two Friday at some point to avoid reaching for scraps.

One of his goals late probably will be to strike gold at placekicker like the Cincinnati Bengals did last season with Evan McPherson in round five. According to those whose job is to know this, Gabe Brkic of Oklahoma and Cade York of LSU are the two best. Both young men are capable of striking from midfield and beyond.

Brkic. a Cleveland-area kid (Chardon) who prepped at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin High School, missed only one extra point in 160 attempts with the Sooners the last four seasons. But the line of scrimmage in the NFL for the extra point is the 15, as opposed to the two in college.

Berry's main goal this week, especially with the talent on both sides of the football pretty much set, will be strengthening the depth throughout the roster with an eye on improving special teams, which have slipped close to the bottom of the NFL the last two seasons.

Without the benefit of a first-round pick, it probably will be difficult -- not impossible -- for any of Berry's selections this year to become immediate vital contributors this season.

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It's puzzling (at least to me) how puffed up draft pundits are getting over this year's quarterbacks class. There isn't one stickout who comes even close to being as exciting turning pro as Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray and Justin Herbert the last several years.

This year, it's Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, Malik Willis of Liberty, Matt Corral of Ole Miss, Carson Strong of Nevada, Sam Howell of North Carolina and Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati. Some pundits predict as many as four will come off the board in the first round.

I didn't realize that many teams were that desperate for a quarterback, especially with next year's talent-rich class featuring Bryce Young of Alabama, Ohio State's C. J. Stroud, Spencer Rattler of South Carolina and Tyler Van Dyke of Miami (Fla.).

The only member of this year's group close to being NFL ready is Pickett, who has honed his game in four years with the Panthers' pro-style offense. None of the others are capable of stepping right in and taking over.

Trying to figure out why so many gush over Willis, who transferred to little Liberty after failing at Auburn. He's Baker Mayfield sized at a pinky nail above six feet. He's also a pretty good athlete with a strong arm and impressive statistics.

In two years at Liberty, he threw for around 5,400 yards, completing 62% of his passes for 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He tacked on a little more than 1,800 yards on the ground for 27 more scores. Perhaps it's the 74 touchdowns that caught the everyone's attention. 

Some pundits think the Pittsburgh Steelers will keep Pickett home and grab him with the 20th overall pick to succeed Ben Roethlisberger. Others believe the Steelers will not wait and move up to get Willis. Fervent prayers here for the latter to eventuate.

(More draft thoughts to come as Thursday night's opening round creeps closer.)