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Browns GM Andrew Berry taking 'aggressive' approach to solving QB question in offseason
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- Browns GM Andrew Berry taking 'aggressive' approach to solving QB question in offseason
INDIANAPOLIS — Andrew Berry knows exactly what would constitute a successful offseason. The "how" of achieving that is the part the Browns general manager isn't going to be picky about.
"Yeah, I'd say just taking out timing, whether it's before the draft or after the draft or during the draft, improving the quarterback play, that's a big part of the offseason," Berry said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine .
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Therein lies the hard work for Berry and the rest of the Browns front office. If finding franchise quarterbacks were as easy as snapping one's fingers, everyone would have one.
The Browns certainly don't have one. They thought they found one when they traded for Deshaun Watson in 2022, except that the trade — and the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract — have resulted in a mere 19 starts over three seasons and two season-ending injuries, the last of which he reaggravated enough that his 2025 season is in jeopardy.
That's left the desperate Browns in the market for a quarterback. That desperation has taken the form of an aggression in the way they're approaching the search.
"Yeah, we will always be aggressive," Berry said. "That's something that we believe in. Now, I mentioned at the podium how we pull on different levers at different times, [and] it may look different depending on what opportunities present themselves. We're really fortunate this year that we have a great opportunity with the No. 2 pick and 11 [picks] overall, but if there are opportunities on the veteran market or the trade market or whatever that piece, that's something that we'll certainly attack and explore."
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The most recent opportunity emerged this week when the Los Angeles Rams gave quarterback Matthew Stafford permission to speak to other teams about a potential trade and new contract. The Browns are believed to have kicked the tires on Stafford, although the question of what's likely to be a contract in the vicinity of $40 to 50 million per year is why Berry was asked about their ability to manage that kind of investment.
The Browns are over the cap, although they're expected to rework multiple deals to open up some room. Even with the questions about that cap space, Berry didn't sound too concerned it would prevent the team from a pursuit of Stafford or another higher-priced quarterback.
"I will say this," Berry said, "our cash and cap position, like I mentioned, we always look at that on a multi-year planning perspective. It will not be prohibitive for us to do things if the opportunities present themselves."
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry watches the team warm up before an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Another of those big-ticket quarterbacks who may or may not be available is the Atlanta Falcons ' Kirk Cousins . Cousins, who signed a four-year $180 million with the Falcons last March, lost his starting job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. , who was taken No. 8 overall in last April's draft.
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Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot has been adamant Cousins will be on the roster next season. The Browns, though, could be in position to swoop in and get him if the Falcons choose to release him or put him on the block.
Cousins and Stafford are in a large group of veteran quarterbacks who are either free agents or potential trade targets. Berry said it's about making the right evaluation.
"In some areas it may be arm strength or anticipation or the ability to move and what you're doing, you're weighing these different bundles of characteristics and then ultimately aiming at the ones that have the most of what you desire," Berry said. "Now the added element or the added layer on top is availability and cost. That's not something that we'll know for a couple weeks, but you do as much planning as you can because free agency and the trade market, they generally take different twist turns, or at least that has been our experience over the past five years."
There are other avenues to getting a quarterback beyond trying to trade for the 35-year-old Stafford or wait out the Falcons on Cousins. The most obvious is through the draft, where the Browns have the No. 2 overall pick.
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The two top quarterbacks in the draft class are Miami 's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders . The Browns have met with or will meet with both by the time this week concludes, and Sanders has already confirmed he'll do a pre-draft visit to Berea in March.
"Both of those guys, they're excellent players, they're excellent prospects," Berry said. "We're looking forward to spending more dedicated time with them, not only this week, but moving forward. They're impressive young men, not only on the field, but everything that their programs say about them. So all those decisions remain to be seen . But it's been a good start with them so far."
If they were to pass on one of those quarterbacks in the first round, the Browns could find one on day two of the draft. Ole Miss ' Jaxson Dart , Texas' Quinn Ewers , Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Louisville's Tyler Shough are among those who have been mentioned in that group.
The problem for the Browns, and the rest of the NFL, is the question of just how good this quarterback draft class is in relation to others. Even Ward and Sanders have many detractors, at least compared to last year's class.
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"I think that remains to be seen," Berry said. "I always use the example of 2017. That was supposed to be like a down year of the quarterback, and arguably the guy who will retire as the greatest of all time was taken 10th overall in the draft, Patrick Mahomes .
"So you never really know how it's going to turn out. Our job is really just to do the work we can to get these guys focused as players and make the decision that's best for us."
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 eyeing 'aggressive' approach to solving Browns' QB issue
