The Cleveland Browns are showing uncharacteristic patience, electing not to make changes to their head coach and general manager positions despite a season marred by the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade. The decision to keep GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski in place heading into 2025 represents a break from the Haslam family’s historically quick-trigger approach to leadership changes.
A New Approach to Stability
Despite the immense fallout from the Watson trade—which has come to be considered one of the worst in NFL history when financials are considered—the Haslams have been pleased with Berry and Stefanski’s efforts to keep the team unified. After years of instability, with coaches and GMs struggling to last more than a couple of seasons, the Browns are showing faith in the duo who delivered playoff berths in both 2020 and 2023. Berry and Stefanski each have the cache of those postseason accomplishments, with Stefanski twice winning NFL Coach of the Year.
The Browns entered the 2024 season with high expectations, buoyed by having an NFL-high 12 players on eight-figure-per-year contracts. However, Watson’s continued struggles and injury issues, most recently an Achilles tear, have led to a 3-8 record—the worst since the ill-fated Freddie Kitchens era. Despite this, Jimmy Haslam and his ownership group have opted to extend their support to Berry and Stefanski, hoping the regime can guide the team back to form.
Adding Competition for Watson
The Deshaun Watson experiment has clearly not gone as planned. The quarterback, signed to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, has failed to deliver on the franchise-changing promise for which the Browns mortgaged their future. After missing significant time in 2021 due to off-field issues, Watson has struggled with both performance and health since arriving in Cleveland. The massive cap hit—set at $72.9 million in each of the next two seasons—makes releasing him virtually impossible, meaning the Browns will need to find a way to make it work or find an alternative.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that the Browns are likely to bring in legitimate competition for Watson, rather than settle for a backup as they have in recent years. After trying out the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, and Jameis Winston in relief roles, Cleveland may now pursue a starter-caliber player to push Watson for the starting spot. This could involve selecting a quarterback in the draft or exploring the veteran market, though Watson’s contract limits flexibility.
Stefanski and Berry have hinted that Watson’s starting role is no longer a guarantee, particularly as he rehabs from his Achilles injury. The Browns may take their time with his return, perhaps stashing him on the PUP list to start 2025. However, at some point, a decision about Watson’s future will need to be made, especially if his performances don’t improve.
Financial Fallout Looms Large
Cutting Watson before the 2026 season appears to be the only feasible way for the Browns to move on without crippling their finances. A release before then would come with a dead cap figure of $172 million—a staggering amount that no team could realistically absorb. A post-June 1 cut in 2026 is more realistic, reducing the dead cap number to $99.8 million. Even then, this move would make Watson one of the costliest mistakes in NFL history.
In the meantime, Cleveland may consider another contract restructure, though that would only kick the can 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 setback 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 displayed flashes of becoming a legitimate contender, and it appears ownership believes the pair still has the ability to maximize the talent on the roster. They’ve had success 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 struggle, the scrutiny on both Berry and Stefanski will only intensify. For now, they have bought themselves some time, but the margin for error is razor-thin as Cleveland looks to rebuild from the most expensive misstep in franchise history.