Everything is – Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry says the team’s QB competition—where Deshaun Watson faces Shedeur Sanders—will be shaped by performance and player progress, not by last spring’s criticism of the Watson trade. Berry also leaves room for a new deal
When Andrew Berry talks about Cleveland’s quarterback race, he’s not talking about memory. He’s talking about what happens next.
This week. Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters that between Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. the organization has two quarterbacks capable of playing winning football. For Watson. that stance lands after a rough public moment last spring: team owner Jimmy Haslam described the trade for the quarterback as “a big swing and a miss.”.
On Friday, Berry pushed back on the idea that that kind of public fallout has any role in how the Browns build their team right now. In an interview with Anthony Lima and Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan, Berry said the organization deals with what it has and how players progress.
“I think you deal with what you have,” Berry said. “You deal with how players progress or don’t progress. But honestly. the public discourse doesn’t really have a factor in terms of how we think about putting together the team. with Todd. in terms of putting together the best lineup. That really doesn’t play a factor into it.”.
Berry’s message was clear: the Browns aren’t letting outside debate decide what lineup they trust. The competition is about performance and leadership.
Then Berry widened the lens when the topic turned back to Watson’s future. He said he’s not ruling anything out—including a potential new deal for the quarterback, who is entering the last year of his contract with Cleveland.
“I think everything is on the table,” Berry said. “I think it would be silly to go into a season saying. ‘Something absolutely can or cannot happen.’ And I think particularly at the quarterback position. we’ve seen it with guys whether it’s Sam Darnold. or Daniel Jones. or Geno Smith. even Baker after he left us and Carolina.“So I think you have to be open-minded and flexible. But I wouldn’t rule out anything. We’re looking for guys who can perform and who can lead.”.
Watson’s situation adds urgency to the talk. He has not played a full season since 2020, when he was still with Houston. Since 2022 with Cleveland, he has started 19 games, completing 61 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Now, the Browns are set to find out what that résumé looks like in this version of the team. The decision point is coming in August, when Watson will have to beat Sanders to reclaim his spot as Cleveland’s QB1.
Andrew Berry Todd Monken Deshaun Watson Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns QB competition Jimmy Haslam 92.3 The Fan