Tag: Berry

Aug 23, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) leaves the field before the game between the Browns and the Los Angeles Rams at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns GM: Myles Garrett trade about goals, not tanking

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Browns general manager Andrew Berry resisted computing whether Cleveland “won” the trade finalized Monday night sending Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive lineman Jared Verse and other assets.

Because only one team parted with a player considered a near lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and in the past refused to even discuss dealing away one of the NFL’s all-time leaders in sacks, Berry understands if fans are caught thinking, “Why now?”

“It got to a certain point where we looked at what the trade details were, and we asked ourselves, ‘OK, do we hold here, regardless of how emotionally right it felt, or do we ultimately make a decision that will benefit the team in the short and long term?’” Berry explained Tuesday.

With the first-round pick from the Rams, the Browns have tandem picks in the top 32 in the 2027 draft. He said the Rams pushed persistently to acquire the All-Pro defensive end and met the detailed criteria the franchise set for any deal. Even as talks progressed, Berry said he wasn’t confident a trade would happen.

The deal finally came together when the Rams added to their offer, knowing Verse plus picks put them in what Berry described as “a very narrow universe to satisfy” Cleveland’s demands. The Rams added a 2028 second-round pick and 2029 third-round pick to turn the light green on the trade.

Berry said suggestions the Browns are “tanking” the upcoming season are unfounded. Garrett is only 30 and had his most productive season as a pro in 2025, but the Browns viewed the trade return as more than fair because of how highly they rated Verse.

“All of our goals are still in front of us,” Berry said. “We have an excellent defense with really good players at all three levels. Jared is an outstanding — he’s one of the best players in the league. We’re excited to have him as part of our team.”

Verse is under contract for at least the next two seasons. He has a $4.1 million cap hit this year and is eligible for a fifth-year option in 2028.

Garrett’s cap hit was only $8.14 million for 2026 but explodes to $57.99 million in 2029 and 2030 on the four-year, $160 million extension he signed last year.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year played nine seasons and 134 career games and recorded 412 career tackles, 125.5 sacks, 23 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries with the Browns.

He owns the NFL records for sacks in a season with 23 last season and no player under 30 has recorded more in a career in league history.

He became the first player in NFL history — dating to sacks becoming an official stat in 1982 — to record at least 12 sacks for six consecutive seasons (2020-25) and is the only NFL player to record at least 10 sacks in each of the past eight seasons (2018-25).

–Field Level Media

Browns fire two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski, retain GM

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Browns general manager Andrew Berry was spared but head coach Kevin Stefanski is out in Cleveland.

Franchise owner Jimmy Haslam confirmed the move Monday after the Browns ended the 2025 season with a 5-12 record.

“This was a difficult decision and today is a tough day for our organization because of the impact Kevin has had and the deep, meaningful relationships he has built across our building,” said Berry, who also holds the title of executive vice president of football operations. “We have great respect for Kevin, who has led our organization through both unique and challenging circumstances over his six seasons. Over that time, he has been more than a coach but also a partner, friend and stabilizing force for our team.

“… I am disappointed that we could not accomplish more together and the collective underperformance of our group is something I own. “

Stefanski, 43, had a 45-56 record over six seasons, but said in a statement on Monday he will depart with a “sense of gratitude.”

“When I arrived in January of 2020, this organization, this community and Browns fans embraced me and my family with open arms. I cannot express properly in words how good we have been treated. A sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who I have been so blessed to work for and with over these six seasons. I’d like to especially thank my coaching staff and the players who did everything that was ever asked of them. They fought through injury and adversity, while always putting the TEAM FIRST. I wish all of you nothing but success.”

Haslam also voiced gratitude for Stefanski’s leadership in a tenure that was disrupted months after his hire by the COVID-19 pandemic and genuine care for his personnel.

“He is a good football coach and an even better person. We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our organization, but our results over the last two seasons have not been satisfactory, and we believe a change at the head coaching position is necessary,” Haslam and his wife, Dee, said in a statement Monday.

Hired in January 2020, Stefanski won 11 games in his first season and led the team to two playoff appearances and two 11-win seasons. and is one of 16 coaches in the history of the NFL Coach of the Year award (established 1957) to win it twice.

Stefanski and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Paul Brown (1951 and 1953) as the only coaches in team history to record multiple seasons with at least 11 regular-season wins.

–Field Level Media

Dec 25, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) shakes hands with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) after their game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin questions wisdom behind Browns’ QB decisions

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Mike Tomlin has no words to explain his surprise that Joe Flacco is on the schedule with a second AFC North team on Thursday night.

The Steelers (4-1) beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday with rookie Dillon Gabriel in the starting role that belonged to Flacco until two weeks ago. Now Flacco is the QB1 for the Cincinnati Bengals (2-4), who pried Flacco from Cleveland in a rare intradivision trade last week.

Tomlin was puzzled by Browns general manager Andrew Berry reversing course from Flacco starting the season as the No. 1 quarterback to trading him to the Bengals a month later.

“To be honest, it was shocking to me,” Tomlin said. “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us. Because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feelings.”

Thursday gives Tomlin the chance to face Flacco as a starting quarterback again. Flacco is 11-11 in his career against the Steelers, including 21 games with the Baltimore Ravens. The 22nd game of his career against Pittsburgh was Sept. 29 last season, when, as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, he relieved injured Anthony Richardson after only four pass attempts.

With Cleveland, Flacco was benched with a league-leading nine turnovers through four games in 2025.

The Bengals were looking for a solution with Joe Burrow (toe) sidelined since Week 1 and backup Jake Browning under fire after three consecutive losses. He had eight interceptions in four games this season.

Flacco had two touchdowns and zero interceptions in his first start with Cincinnati on Sunday at Green Bay, a 27-18 loss. He completed 64.4% of his passes for 219 yards.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) is introduced before the game between the Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns GM: ‘Increasingly unlikely’ Nick Chubb returns to team

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Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry didn’t sound too optimistic about unsigned star running back Nick Chubb making an immediate return to the club.

The writing likely was on the wall when the Browns selected Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and Tennessee rusher Dylan Sampson in the fourth. They also recently renegotiated the contract of fellow running back Jerome Ford.

“I wouldn’t rule anything out, but I would say it’s probably increasingly unlikely,” Berry told 92.3 The Fan on Friday morning. “I’d say maybe a return is less likely, at least in the short term, with us right now.”

Berry added that “we haven’t necessarily been in strong communication after the draft.”

Chubb, 29, has played in only 10 games over the past two seasons due to knee and foot injuries. He rushed for 332 yards and three scores in eight starts in 2024.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time 1,000-yard rusher, Chubb ranks third in franchise history with 6,843 rushing yards behind Pro Football Hall of Fame members Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly.

Judkins led the national champion Buckeyes with 1,060 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns last season.

Sampson, the Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Year last year, set school single-season records for rushing yards (1,491) and touchdowns (22).

Ford, 25, rushed for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (six starts) last season, adding 37 catches for 225 yards.

He has 1,390 rushing yards, 544 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 44 games (18 starts) since the Browns picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson heads to the sideline during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Browns GM: Deshaun Watson experienced ‘setback’ with Achilles

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Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson experienced a post-surgery setback in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles, general manager Andrew Berry said Monday.

Berry was informed Sunday that Watson’s recovery went off track but he’s unclear whether the timeline for Watson’s return to the field has changed.

“Yesterday as we went through our normal player medical process, we did learn he did have a setback in his Achilles recovery. We don’t have all the details and everything yet, but it will obviously extend the recovery process for him,” Berry said.

Asked whether Watson could require another Achilles operation, Berry wasn’t definitive about the next steps.

“I don’t have all of those details,” Berry said Monday. “He did raise it to the doctors. I’m not trying to be evasive here. It’s all really new.”

The Browns reworked Watson’s contract last month to soften the salary cap hit for 2025 and have said they plan to address their QB position. Injuries have been a constant of Watson’s tenure in Cleveland since he signed a $230 million fully guaranteed contract.

Watson, 29, played seven games in 2024 and ended the season on injured reserve because of surgery for the second consecutive season. Watson played 12 total games in his first two seasons with the Browns (2022-23).

Cleveland started Bailey Zappe in Saturday’s loss at Baltimore and fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey after one season. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was noncommittal about his QB plans for 2024 and Berry again on Monday said the Browns were planning to pursue other quarterbacks before they learned of the latest Watson news.

“I wouldn’t say it has a significant impact,” Berry said.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) in the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Browns GM: Restructuring QB Deshaun Watson’s contract ‘on the table’

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One year after Deshaun Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns, the franchise is looking to restructure the deal to create much-needed salary cap space.

Watson’s cap charge for the next four seasons is a record $54,993,000, and general manager Andrew Berry said restructuring the contract is an option.

“It could be on the table,” Berry said, “But there’s a lot of flexibility in terms of what we can do.”

Watson is scheduled for a base salary of $46 million and is charged $8.993 million for his signing bonus.

Cleveland is projected to be $14.373 million over the 2023 salary cap as of Tuesday.

The highest salary cap charge in the history of the NFL for a single season to date was $39 million.

NFL teams have until March 15 to align their finances and be compliant with the 2023 salary cap of $224.8 million.

–Field Level Media

A Cleveland Browns fan shows support for quarterback Baker Mayfield during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. Browns 19 1

Browns GM: QB Baker Mayfield the starter in 2022

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Browns general manager Andrew Berry appears to have invested in a front-row seat for the Baker Mayfield redemption tour in 2022.

Berry said Tuesday that Mayfield, who needs left shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, is Cleveland’s expected starter next season despite a downturn in his performance and production in 2021.

“We know his work ethic. We know his drive,” Berry said Tuesday. “We see him as a talented passer in this league. We expect him to bounce back next year.”

Berry and the Browns picked up the fifth-year option on Mayfield’s contract prior to the 2021 season. Mayfield said he wasn’t concerned about his long-term contract status. If left unchanged, the existing deal leaves him relatively unprotected in the event of injury on the heels of a season in which he was a fixture on the injury report.

Mayfield did not play in the regular-season finale in Week 18 with the Browns eliminated from playoff contention. He said injuries had limited him since the second week of the regular season but didn’t want to use them as an excuse. He was sacked nine times in his final game of the season, a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 4 that left him with a 6-8 record as a starter in 2021.

Backup Case Keenum started the finale and said he applauds Mayfield’s toughness.

“I don’t want to speak for him. I can only speak for myself and what I saw,” Keenum said. “I did have a front-row seat to one of the toughest, gutsiest performances of a quarterback playing through a season that I’ve ever seen. Battling a lot of things.”

Mayfield had 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions with 3,563 yards in 2020 and totaled 17 touchdowns with 13 interceptions and 3,010 yards in 2021.

The guaranteed option pays him $18.86 million in 2022. More than half of the NFL’s 32 teams could be in the market for a starting quarterback in the offseason, and his option has no trade limitations should the Browns be bowled over by an offer.

“It’s not gonna always be pretty or smooth, but I’m a fighter,” Mayfield, 26, said. “If anybody ever questions how much I want it, just turn on this tape. It wasn’t pretty, but I kept going, kept swinging; that’s who I am, and that’s what I will continue to be.”

In addition to the torn labrum, Mayfield was on the injury report with left foot soreness and a right knee contusion. He also has had to wear a harness on the left shoulder to prevent it from popping out of place.

–Field Level Media