Browns Proposed Radical NFL Draft Lottery Idea That Didn't Make the Cut

Cleveland GM Andrew Berry pitched a controversial plan to randomize future traded draft picks.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:52pm

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According to reports, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry proposed a radical idea at the recent NFL league meetings to institute a lottery system for any draft picks traded three or more years into the future. The proposal would have meant that if multiple teams traded for picks in a distant future year like 2030, those picks would then be subject to a random lottery to determine which team actually received them, rather than going to the team the pick was originally traded to. However, the proposal did not gain enough support to warrant a formal vote.

Why it matters

Berry's proposal was seen as an attempt to get ahead of potential tanking behavior, where teams intentionally underperform in the short term to secure higher draft picks in the future. The lottery system was meant to disrupt that strategy by introducing more randomness. However, the plan was viewed as overly complex and disruptive to the existing draft order system.

The details

During his presentation on the Browns' proposal to extend the number of years teams can trade future draft picks from 3 to 5 years, Berry also floated the idea of a lottery for any picks traded 3 or more years out. Under this system, if 3 teams traded for 2030 draft picks, those 3 picks would then be subject to a random lottery to determine which team actually received them, rather than going to the original trading partner.

  • The proposal was made by Andrew Berry at the recent NFL league meetings in late March 2026.

The players

Andrew Berry

The general manager of the Cleveland Browns, who pitched the controversial draft lottery proposal.

Todd Monken

The new head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who missed the annual league coaches photo because he was getting a haircut.

Deshaun Watson

The Browns' quarterback, who was recently pointed to as the team's starter again for the 2026 season after earlier doubts.

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What they’re saying

“Andrew Berry had some support this week when it came to the team's proposal of extending how far out into the future draft picks could be traded, but not enough to warrant a vote this year. He had far less support for an idea he floated at the end of his speech for future consideration, which was that any team who traded three or more years into the future would be subject to a lottery pool among the traded picks.”

— Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Reporter

What’s next

The NFL is not expected to formally consider Berry's draft lottery proposal in the near future, as it was viewed as too complex and disruptive to gain widespread support among team owners and league officials.

The takeaway

Andrew Berry's creative but controversial draft lottery idea highlights the Browns' willingness to think outside the box, even if their proposals don't always gain traction. The team's recent string of unusual headlines also underscores the unpredictable nature of the NFL offseason.