General Manager Andrew Berry addressed the Browns' need at cornerback Thursday night in the first round of the NFL Draft by selecting Northwestern University's Greg Newsome II at No. 26 overall.
With the national spotlight on Cleveland while the city hosts its first draft, Newsome became the newest member of a Browns team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Coming off the best record of the expansion era — 11-5 with a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs — the Browns had their lowest starting position (No. 26) in any draft since the club's rebirth in 1999.
With a loaded roster, the Browns don't have many needs they must address in the draft, but cornerback was the most glaring one because Greedy Williams missed all of last season with nerve damage in a shoulder and Berry let Terrance Mitchell leave last month in free agency after he started in 2020 opposite standout Denzel Ward.
Most draft analysts believe South Carolina's Jaycee Horn, Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley and Northwestern's Greg Newsome II form the top tier of this year's cornerback class.
After the first seven picks were offensive players, two corners — Horn and Surtain — were taken by the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 overall and the Denver Broncos at No. 9, respectively. Another cornerback didn't come off the board until No. 22, when the Tennessee Titans selected Farley.
But Newsome was available to the Browns.
Other prospects who were linked to the Browns as potential targets but were off the board before No. 26 overall include Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins (Arizona Cardinals, No. 16), Miami defensive end Jaelan Phillips (Miami Dolphins, No. 18), Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis (Washington Football Team, No. 19 overall), Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney (New York Giants, No. 20) and Michigan defensive end Kwity Paye (Indianapolis Colts, No. 21).
Newsome is the latest major addition to a defense Berry has revamped this offseason. Since free agency began in mid-March, Berry has signed defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Takk McKinley, safety John Johnson III, cornerback Troy Hill, linebacker Anthony Walker and defensive tackle Malik Jackson.
Berry had an eventful day long before the draft began. His wife, Brittan, gave birth to the couple's third child and first daughter, Eden Ruth Berry, at 8:10 a.m. Thursday, a team spokesman said.
The Browns entered the draft with nine selections: first round (No. 26 overall), second (No. 59), third (Nos. 89 and 91), fourth (Nos. 110 and 132), fifth (No. 169), sixth (No. 211) and seventh (No. 257).
Now they have eight choices.
They're scheduled to make three picks combined in Rounds 2 and 3 Friday, when the draft will resume at 7 p.m.
.jpg?w=600)
