Cleveland Browns draft: Top 3 players taken at pick No. 44 in NFL draft
By Greg Newland
With Andrew Berry and the Cleveland Browns not on the clock until pick No. 44 in 2022, let’s look at 3 of the best ever drafted at that slot.
As of late things have been quiet for the Cleveland Browns after sprinting out of the gate. Andrew Berry is likely waiting on the market to cool down, and there is still some uncertainty when it comes to Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson.
Berry is extremely motivated to move on from Mayfield, but there is very little interest in the market to take on nearly $19 million of guaranteed money with only one year remaining. Watson has been dismissed on criminal charges for some cases, but there are still questions on what a suspension from the league could look like in 2022.
I’m not old enough to really go pre-1999 Browns, but I am old enough to know that for most of my life the most exciting time of the year is the NFL Draft. Not only will that be different in 2022, the next three years it appears the Browns will be without a pick.
This doesn’t mean Berry made the wrong decision to give up the farm for Watson. There is no more important position in professional sports than a quarterback, and for the first time in 20-plus years, they have someone elite at the position.
What does that mean for Berry? Drafting in rounds two through seven becomes that much more important. With a few major contracts on the roster, this team will need to start building via the draft and can’t afford to sign a ton of veteran free agents each offseason.
To this point, Berry has drafted very well. His first big test will be pick No. 44 this draft where it will be imperative for him to get a starting-caliber player. Here are three of the best taken at pick No. 44 in years past.