Browns want to take 'aggressive shots' to add talent

You build through the draft.

Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown said as much Monday afternoon in an end-of-year news conference.

But Brown, who reflected on a trying 1-15 season alongside head coach Hue Jackson and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, said they’ll work in “lockstep” this offseason to build up the team’s roster by any means necessary.

“We want to take aggressive shots at adding talent to the roster, whether that’s at the trade deadline, free agency or in the draft,” Brown said. “The draft is going to be our primary pipeline of talent to the roster but it’s not going to be an exclusive pipeline. I think we’re going to go out and look at all the opportunities available to us come March.”

Brown’s comments echo a plan outlined by owner Jimmy Haslam, who spoke Sunday after an overtime loss to the Steelers. Haslam broke down Cleveland’s path forward in three parts. Cleveland wants to re-sign our key players, be appropriately aggressive in free agency and have a great draft.