Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry are set to receive contract extensions this offseason, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. After a successful 2023 campaign, which saw the Browns finish with 11 wins and a spot in the AFC playoffs, Stefanski won the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award. Berry’s decision to acquire quarterback Deshaun Watson, despite his limited playing time due to injury, paid off as the Browns had the top-rated defense in football based on total yards surrendered. Both Stefanski and Berry have matching five-year deals that are set to expire after the 2024 season.
One of the key contributors to the Browns’ late-season success was quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco, who won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award, finished the year with a 4-1 record as a regular-season starter. He threw for 1,616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Flacco’s addition to the team on a favorable contract proved to be a wise move by Berry. Stefanski also deserves credit for effectively utilizing Flacco’s skills in play-action passing and pushing the ball downfield. The success of both men can be attributed, in part, to the luck they had in riding the Flacco wave to secure a Wildcard spot in the conference.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is set to be the real issue for the team in 2024 and beyond. With a massive $230 million fully-guaranteed contract, his salary cap hit will skyrocket to $64 million annually next season and remain that way for the duration of the agreement. While the Browns can push a portion of that money into the future, it will eventually burden their salary cap as a significant dead money hit.
The deal that General Manager Andrew Berry made to acquire Watson, along with the trade involving three first-round picks, has been heavily criticized. These moves are considered the biggest blights on Berry’s tenure in Cleveland. Despite the success and popularity of quarterback Joe Flacco with the fans and his teammates, Watson is expected to start next season due to his contract and the franchise’s substantial investment in him.
The upcoming 2024 campaign will be crucial for Watson and the entire organization. He needs to stay on the field and perform at a high level. The Browns must also be competitive in the AFC North Division and make a return to the playoffs. Failure to achieve these goals would require Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski to take responsibility for their mistakes and make necessary changes. If they fail to do so, their futures in Cleveland may be in jeopardy, regardless of any contract extensions they sign in the near future.
According to the Source heavy.com