The Cleveland Browns are showing uncharacteristic patience, choosing not to make changes to the head coaching and general manager positions despite a season marred by the disastrous trade for Deshaun Watson. The decision to keep GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski in place until 2025 represents a break from the Haslam family’s historically impulsive approach to leadership changes.
A New Approach to Stability
Despite the enormous consequences of the Watson trade—which was considered one of the worst in NFL history when considering financial aspects—the Haslams were pleased with Berry and Stefanski’s efforts to keep the team together. After years of instability, with coaches and GMs struggling to stay in place for more than a couple of seasons, the Browns are showing faith in the duo who led the team to the playoffs in 2020 and 2023. Berry and Stefanski both have the prestige of those postseason successes, with Stefanski twice winning the NFL Coach of the Year award.
The Browns entered the 2024 season with high expectations, buoyed by having a record 12 players on eight-figure contracts per year. However, Watson’s continued struggles and injury problems, the latest of which was a torn Achilles tendon, led to a 3-8 record—the worst since the ill-fated Freddie Kitchens era. Despite this, Jimmy Haslam and his ownership group have chosen to extend their support to Berry and Stefanski, hoping that the regime can guide the team towards a recovery.
Add Competition for Watson
The Deshaun Watson experiment clearly didn’t go as planned. The quarterback, signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, failed to deliver on his promise to change the fortunes of the franchise the Browns put their future on the line for. After missing significant time in 2021 due to off-court issues, Watson has struggled with both performance and health since arriving in Cleveland. The heavy impact on the salary cap—set at $72.9 million in each of the next two seasons—makes his release virtually impossible, meaning the Browns will have to find a way to make the situation work or look for an alternative.
SI.com’s Albert Breer reports that the Browns are likely intent on bringing in legitimate competition for Watson, rather than settling for a backup as they have in recent years. After trying out players like Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, and Jameis Winston in fill-in roles, Cleveland may now look for a starting-caliber player to put pressure on Watson for the starting job. That could involve selecting a quarterback in the draft or exploring the veteran market, though Watson’s contract limits flexibility.
Stefanski and Berry hinted that Watson’s starting role is no longer a guarantee, especially as he recovers from his Achilles injury. The Browns could take their time with his return, perhaps placing him on the PUP list in early 2025. However, at some point, a decision will have to be made about Watson’s future, especially if his performance doesn’t improve.
The financial consequences loom on the horizon
Cutting Watson before the 2026 season appears to be the only feasible way for the Browns to move forward without compromising their finances. A release before then would carry a dead cap figure of $172 million—a stratospheric sum that no team could realistically absorb. A cut after June 1, 2026 is more realistic, reducing the dead cap number to $99.8 million. Again, this move would make Watson one of the most costly mistakes in NFL history.
In the meantime, Cleveland could consider a contract restructuring, although that would only push the issue further down the road. Regardless of what happens, the Watson trade will serve as a defining aspect of Berry and Stefanski’s tenure.
A Glimmer of Optimism?
Despite the monumental misstep that is the Watson deal, Berry and Stefanski still retain some of the goodwill they built during their initial seasons at the helm. The Browns have shown signs of becoming a legitimate contender, and it appears ownership believes the duo still has the ability to maximize the talent on the roster. They’ve been successful in building a formidable defense and orchestrating a solid offensive line, and that foundation gives them a chance to salvage their tenures.
However, the reality remains that as long as Watson continues to fight, the scrutiny on Berry and Stefanski will only intensify. For now, they’ve bought themselves some time, but the margin for error is razor-thin as Cleveland tries to rebuild after the most costly misstep in franchise history.
