Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry did an excellent job running Cleveland’s draft on Friday night. He was able to draft in the Top 5 with a slew of blue-chippers to choose from. The trade he orchestrated with the Jacksonville Jaguars wrestled away their first-round choice next year, but also gave the Browns their second-round spot this year at slot #36.

But first things first. Cleveland is on the clock as we speak. They own the first selection in Round 2 at pick #33. The franchise has many needs, such as safety, QB3, young offensive tackle, linebacker and tight end.

Who should Berry select with that first pick?

Two weeks ago, here at Dawgs By Nature, we wrote an article on what should happen if QB Shedeur Sanders fell out of the first round. Take him with pick #33? That’s the story at the link above. It was a perfectly good question, and we felt it needed some discussion.

Most fans stated Sanders wouldn’t get past the New Orleans Saints at pick #9. Or the Indianapolis Colts choosing at #14. And certainly not beyond the Pittsburgh Steelers drafting at #21, right?

And here we are. Prognosticators. Certainly, Berry will select Sanders with the first pick in Round 2, eh?

Or maybe Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Ohio State QB Will Howard?

Perhaps with the new pick gathered from Jacksonville. Or even the #67 pick in Round 3.

But not #33.

Berry needs to run to the podium as soon as the bell sounds and take WR Luther Burden, III out of Missouri.

For starters, Burden was ranked #23 on NFL Draft Buzz, #15 on Pro Football Focus, #16 on Draft Countdown, #14 on CBS Sports, and #20 on ESPN. That means there is great value in taking him early in Round 2.

Burden III (6’-0”, 205 pounds) is the ideal candidate to play the slot and will dominate games. He can take small gains and explode for yardage and make big plays vertically down the field. He is an ideal “five-tool,” multi-sport athlete.

He is a former basketball star and was ranked the #1 offensive football player nationally in the 2022 class and named Class 6A All-State selection. Burden had a college offer from just about every major program with a five-star rating. He runs a 4.41 with 31 1/4” arms. He is also a return man as he was ranked as the #1 player nationally in punt return yards with a 40.32 yards per return average.

Going to Missouri, he made 10 starts as a freshman and then started every game in his sophomore and junior seasons. His career totals include 36 starts, 192 receptions, 2,263 yards, 21 touchdowns, an 11.8 yards per reception average, and 234 rushing yards with four rushing touchdowns.

Paired with Jerry Jeudy on the outside with Cedric Tillman on the other side, the choice to bring in Burden would light up this stagnant Browns offense.

Positives on Burden:

• Creates instant separation
• 85.9% catch rate
• Excellent downfield blocker
• Deep ball tracking abilities
• Twitchy change-of-direction ability

Negatives:

• Route tree needs to be expanded
• Will round off routes
• Top end speed, just not quick
• Will see how he works with NFL defenders

Burden is a polished talent and has the traits to start right away. He has the ability to create plays and will give the offense a solid weapon from minute one. He is dynamic in the open field but will need some refinement. Plainly put: Burden is a weapon.

Oh yeah, Burden was named First Team All-SEC this past season and the year before in consecutive seasons. If you didn’t get the significance of this achievement, it was done in a tough conference as a junior and sophomore.

If you are still stuck on Berry taking a quarterback with the first pick in Round 2, consider this: that player won’t even see the field this year. He will be strictly developmental for either 2026 or even 2027.

Burden is help for the offense now. This year. He was ranked a mid-first-round selection by almost every NFL draft website that the Browns can now get for cheap.