TAKING AN OPPORTUNITY
For Browns fans, putting hope in a new reception / coaching staff has created frustration, even embarrassment, for decades. It has been that way since the team returned in 1999, so I hesitate to write the following sentences.
But I’m going to do it anyway.
I feel great about managing the Browns under rookie GM Andrew Berry. That doesn’t diminish Kevin Stefanski, but we won’t know much about the rookie head coach until he has actual practice (not Zoom meetings) and the team really plays meaningful games.
That being said, there are so far reasons to hope for Stefanski. He seems like the organized and sensible CEO-type coach this team needs. Up to this point.
But it is also very early.
THE BROWNS TAX
We can begin to judge the approach taken by Berry, the youngest GM in the NFL at the age of 33. Why? Because a big part of a GM’s job is player acquisition. We have to wait until the players take the field, but fans can look at the players brought to Cleveland and see some trends.
1. Berry connected with Stefanski about which players were needed. The coach’s offense needed a major improvement on the line and in the tight end.
2. The first free agent moves by the new office were the signings of right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper. They were the best at their available positions in free agency. Some may argue that they overpaid for Conklin and Hooper ($ 86 million combined contracts), but this is how a losing team like Cleveland brings talent.
3. Remember that Browns have to pay a tax, or fee, for decades of loss. Most of the players are not interested in Cleveland due to all the changes in the main office / training along with a playoff appearance (2002) since 1999.
4. Berry knew that Stefanski wanted Case Keenum, who was with the coach in Minnesota, as his substitute QB. He knew that Keenum was valued as a backup QB by multiple teams. He’s good enough to do a decent job as a starter, mature enough to be the right backup for Baker Mayfield.
5. The Browns had many younger defensive veterans, most with one-year contracts. I would have preferred to see linebacker Joe Schobert retained, but the Browns didn’t want to spend a lot of money on him or any other linebacker. Signed with Jacksonville. They don’t consider linebackers a defensive priority compared to other positions, especially the defensive line.
6. As you consider the movements, remember that you have to pay for the sins of those who preceded them. They benefited from Sashi Brown creating a salary room and drafting Myles Garrett. John Dorsey selected Nick Chubb, Denzel Ward and Mayfield. He traded for Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and a few others. So Berry had some assets to work with.
Chris Hubbard can assist on-call or board as backup. John Kuntzcleveland.com
PLAYING THE CONTRACT GAME
1. At the time it was announced, I yawned. The Browns reworked Chris Hubbard’s contract, reducing his base salary from $ 6.15 million to $ 2.5 million. Hubbard had been the initial right tackle, but adding Conklin made him expendable.
2. I assumed that the Browns would cut Hubbard. But the Browns like Hubbard’s attitude and work ethic. They believe that he can play tackle and protect, be a good “utility man” in case someone gets hurt. Then they found a way to hold him back.
3. The hope is the draft pick Jedrick Wills Jr. takes over the left tackle with no major rookie problems, while Wyatt Teller takes over the right guard. It is a place that is still trying to fill the hole after Kevin Zeitler was traded to New York by Olivier Vernon.
4. If Teller can’t do it, Hubbard is a possibility. This is rarely mentioned.
5. The Browns spent a lot of time talking to Bus Cook, Myles Garrett’s agent, and Jadeveon Clowney. From their discussions, they knew that a deal for Clowney was unlikely. That led them to rework Vernon’s contract, from $ 15.5 million to $ 11 million. That way, the Browns still have a veteran defensive end across the line from Garrett.
6. Will Vernon stay healthy? That’s a great question about a boy who has missed 15 games in the past three seasons. Signed veteran Adrian Clayborn as a defensive defense. He has 51 starts in the NFL career.
Andrew Berry has made some good moves in his first season as GM. Joshua Gunter,cleveland.com
THE GREAT DEAL
1. I’ve heard from some fans that Garrett is not the best defender in the NFL, so he shouldn’t be paid the maximum. It doesn’t work that way. Remember the “brown tax” issue. The Browns were going to have to pay a lot to support Garrett: a 5-year, $ 125 million extension with $ 50 million up front and $ 100 million guaranteed.
2. But as I wrote, Garrett wanted to stay. He had a quality Cook agent willing to work with the Browns to do it. You would rather sign a 24-year-old who is probably better now than waiting a year. Why? When a Browns player heads to his free agent year, he rarely re-signs with the team. The open market is too tempting.
3. The Browns hit the top of the 2017 draft with Garrett. Within a year, his price would be higher unless he had a major injury. Not since Joe Thomas had the Browns with a young player they recruited, it was worth signing for big bucks.
4. This central office spent the offseason building lines in attack and defense. Along with Clayborn, the Browns also signed veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings.
5. A lot has already been written about your 2020 draft, so I’ll leave it out of this analysis. I will review it soon. But notice how Berry’s central office assessed the team’s needs and, for the most part, addressed them, along with Garrett’s long-term shutdown. It is an excellent start for a novice GM.
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