Andrew Berry pre-draft availability live updates: What the Browns general manager said

BEREA — The NFL Draft begins in a week. The Browns, though, won't get on the clock for their first pick until the second day of the event.

General manager Andrew Berry will be running his fifth draft as the chief personnel executive in the Browns organization next week. On Thursday morning, though, he'll sit down with the Cleveland-area media, including the Beacon Journal, and answer questions — which he'll deftly dodge — about the organization's plans for their six picks in the draft, as well as other topics involving the team, including potential extensions or fifth-year options, as well as injury updates.

Follow along here for updates on what Berry has to say, or not say, with the draft a week away:

Andrew Berry happy to have 3 starting-caliber tackles, even if all are recovering

General manager Andrew Berry has been asked repeatedly this offseason about the challenge of having three offensive tackles who started last season back. However, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackles Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones are all recovering from season-ending knee injuries.

Berry was asked if, like quarterbacks, tackle was a position where you can never have too much talent.

"We've probably seen that in particular, two out of the four years that we've been here, where I think maybe one or two teams in the league end up having their starting five play the whole season on a given year," Berry said. "And that's one of the positions where, once you get into the season, it's hard to acquire them. The big guys, they're hard to acquire once you get into camp. So tackle's a premium position. We have good ones. Again, in no hurry to give anyone away.”

Cleveland Browns use 30 visits to get 'selective questions'

NFL teams are allowed up to 30 pre-draft visits with prospects. General manager Andrew Berry said he believed the Browns have used as many of those as they've ever used this year.

What do they use them for? Berry said it provides a chance to answer "selection questions."

"When I say questions, that doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing, but it may be a player where we need increased medical on them," Berry said. "It may be a player where we want to see how they handle a full day installation in the classroom. It may be a player that we want to talk through some behavioral issues with. So it really does vary. It's a helpful part of the information gathering process as we build the entire board."

Andrew Berry won't talk potential Greg Newsome II extension

Andrew Berry surprised no one when he refused to answer whether or not the Browns have started talking about an extension for cornerback Greg Newsome II. The 2021 first-round pick is also eligible for his fifth-year option to be exercised by May 2, something the general manager also dodged.

"Nothing new on that," Berry said. "I want as many good corners as possible. We have, going back to my point about the league playing in 11 personnel, I always — your base offense and defense is really more three receivers and three corners in this day and age. So that's really how we think about it.

"Even though we are technically a 4-3, how many snaps will you realistically see us play in base? Not very many over the course of the season, so corner is a premium position. We have three guys who can play press man coverage at a very, very, very high level. That's not a skillset that I'm looking to give away."

Andrew Berry: Deshaun Watson 'throwing up to 40 yards'

Andrew Berry confirmed on Thursday that quarterback Deshaun Watson has been throwing up to "40 yards" as part of his recovery from November shoulder surgery.

"He's in a pretty good spot," Berry said.

Berry "wouldn't make any predictions" as to when Watson would actually play again. The quarterback has stated he felt he would be good for Week 1.

Andrew Berry: Nick Chubb 'going at a good pace' in recovery

The Browns finally restructured running back Nick Chubb's contract last week, something that has been anticipated all offseason. The question remains when Chubb will return to the field.

Andrew Berry wouldn't specify when he expected Chubb to be back on the field. All he would say is the "next few weeks, next few months will be big."

"So with Nick, in his rehab, I think you guys have heard me say he's really attacked it very aggressively, really since he's been able to in the fall," Berry said. "He's going at a good pace. It's still early. He actually started running on land this past week. That's not to say that he's through the woods or anything, but he's doing everything in his power. He's progressing appropriately, but certainly the next few weeks, next few months will be big as we continue to increase the load that he's able to put on his knee, and then how much he's ultimately able to do during his training."

No 1st-round pick doesn't 'lessen excitement' for Browns

The Browns are going into their third consecutive draft without having a first-round pick. Those have gone to the Houston Texans in the Deshaun Watson trade

Despite not being involved in the high-profile opening round, Berry doesn't believe that has "lessen the excitement" within the building for the draft.

"I understand that from an external perspective because those are usually the most well-recognized prospects coming into the draft," Berry said, "but we're excited about maximizing the group of players that we can acquire during the weekend and there's still a number of good players up and down the draft board.”

Andrew Berry: '10 picks out' is when target narrows

General manager Andrew Berry was asked about when the Browns start zeroing in on the potential prospect pool they'll take with their first pick. Berry said the process starts Thursday night after the first round's conclusion.

However, more specifically, Berry believes the process really gets laser focused "about 10 picks out" from when the Browns pick.

Cleveland Browns sign OT Germain Ifedi, place Justin Murray on reserve/retire

The Browns added depth to their offensive tackle group on Thursday morning, signing Germain Ifedi. The nine-year pro out of Texas A&M takes the spot of Justin Murray, who was placed on the reserve/retire list.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Ifedi was originally a first-round pick by Seattle in 2016. He has appeared in 102 career games with 83 starts with the Seahawks (2016-19), Bears (2020-21) and Falcons (2023).

Ifedi has made 59 career starts at right tackle and 24 right guard. Last season, he spent most of the season on the Bills’ active roster but did not appear in a game.

Murray appeared in 41 career games with 20 starts. He spent part of last season on the Browns’ practice squad.

Cleveland Browns 2024 draft picks

The Browns have six picks in the forthcoming draft, although none in the first and fourth rounds. They're not scheduled to pick until the second round, which is on Friday.

Here's the picks they do have:

• Round 2, pick No. 54

• Round 3, pick No. 85

• Rounds 5, pick No. 156

• Rounds 6, pick No. 205

• Round 7, pick No. 227

• Round 7, pick No. 243

Cleveland Browns' 2023 draft picks

• Round 3, pick No. 74: Cedric Tillman, wide receiver, Tennessee

• Round 3, pick No. 98: Siaki Ika, defensive tackle, Baylor

• Round 4, pick No. 111: Dawand Jones, offensive tackle, Ohio State

• Round 4, pick No. 126: Isaiah McGuire, defensive end, Missouri

• Round 5, pick No. 140: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, quarterback, UCLA

• Round 5, pick No. 142: Cameron Mitchell, cornerback, Northwestern

• Round 6, pick No. 190: Luke Wypler, center, Ohio State

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Andrew Berry pre-draft availability updates: What the Browns GM said