Off-season thoughts (Vol. XXV) 

Right now, right this minute, it's nothing more than speculation, a.k.a. flat out guessing, as to how the National Football League college draft will unfold for the Browns. That's the beauty of the lottery. You never know.

Does Andrew Berry, operating with one hand tied behind his back, become proactive and attempt to maneuver all over the draft with seven selections in his arsenal and attempt to pile up capital for an  immediate future that will require it?

Or does the Browns' general manager sit still and become a spectator until it's his turn at 44 in the second round? The itch to do something before then will be there. Count on it. He can't help himself. It's in his DNA. He will be tempted.

Otherwise, it's the great guessing game overall as soon as the opening round, where predicting by the so-called experts is a highly unpredictable exercise once you get past the obvious early choices. Not even that is going to take place starting Thursday night in Las Vegas. 

The only thing close to a certainty this year is Commissioner Roger Goodell putting the Jacksonville Jaguires (yeah, I know) on the clock shortly after 8 o'clock. This is one draft that could go off the rails in a hurry as early as the first five picks.

Those experts, who do this for a living, aren't even close to being in lockstep as to whom will be honored with the top selection. They are pretty much divided among edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan and Trayvon Walker of Georgia and North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Okwonu.

Here is one certainty. Considering this is the weakest quarterbacks class I've seen in at least a decade, don't look for one to come off the board for at least the top 15 picks. You have to go all the way back to 2013 for the last time that happened. The Buffalo Bills made E .J.Manuel of Florida State the only quarterback taken in the first round with the 16th pick.

Quarterbacks have dominated the No. 1 selection lately with six in the last seven drafts, including the last four in a row. Not this year. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett interrupted that streak, by the way, at the top of the 2017 draft. 

There promises to be some -- hesitating here to say significant -- movement in the opening round as eight teams own two selections and another eight have to wait until round two to turn in a card. (That's half the league.) Look for big-time bartering to make the evening extremely interesting for the television networks.

Berry, who isn't pinned down easily, did shed a sliver of light with regard to the possibility of taking Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo if he's there at 44. Ojabo, projected to be a first-rounder before rupturing his Achilles tendon during his pro day last month, will be sidelined for most of this year.

Berry was asked whether he would take Ojabo, if there. even though he won't be available until later this year at the earliest. Wouldn't that be a wasted pick? His meandering reply surrounds the conundrum without answering it.

"It's definitely something we run through," he said. "It really is unique to the player, and that is both the talent level and the position, and then with your medical staff. What is the injury? What is the prognosis for not just recovery, where they are medically cleared, but also for potential for long-term and short-term impact on performance as well. All of those really come into play.

"Quite honestly, the reality of it is that depending on the injury, if you are giving up a year of the player's rookie contract, that also has to factor in as well. Each situation is unique." So is that a yes he will take Ojabo, if there, or a nicely-crafted no? Guess we'll find out if he falls to 44.

If it depends on the medical staff, the one that kept sending Baker Mayfield out there most of last season despite significant physical problems that would have sidelined many players, then my level of confidence drops with Berry's ultimate decision on Ojabo.

I have faith the GM will do the right thing at 44 and take the best wide receiver -- and maybe another in one of the later rounds -- to help the new face of the franchise get off to a strong start. In this one case only, need trumps best player.

If he does, get ready for the likes of Cincinnati's Alec Pierce, George Pickens of Georgia, Christian Watson of North Dakota State or John Metchie III of Alabama. One is certain to drop into Berry's lap. That is, of course, unless he surprises us and moves higher in the second round or into the tailend of the first.