Browns GM Andrew Berry said negotiations are still ongoing for a new contract for Myles Garrett and the team hasn't budged from refusing to trade him. (TheLandOnDemand)
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
As the Browns dig deeper in their stance not to honor Myles Garrett’s trade request, there have been continuing conversations between the team and Garrett and his reps at Klutch Sports Group that may lead to a reconciliation and a big, new contract for the generational pass rusher.
Speaking to media at the NFL Combine, Browns GM Andrew Berry said, “We've had plenty of dialogue throughout the season and after the season ended, certainly both him and his camp, both before and after the request. And again, our interest is in keeping Myles in Cleveland.”
Garrett has not spoken publicly since the Super Bowl, when he said his trade request was not about money but the desire to play for a championship-contending team. Garrett said then that after speaking with team management, he didn’t feel “our future is aligned with winning right now.”
In his first response to Garrett’s comments, Berry said, “Trade requests, they happen across the league all the time, and I think at times for individual players that they’ll have certain interests during different parts of their career whether they’re a young player, a veteran player, things like that. That’s not unusual. It’s not the first for us, it probably won’t be the last. It’s not the first across the league, but we respect, we appreciate Myles and, like I said, we’re not interested in moving him.”
In a sidebar interview after his 15 minutes on the media room podium, Berry was asked if thought the Browns and Garrett were aligned on a vision for recovering from 3-14 and contending for the playoffs.
“I'd say the big thing we are aligned on is everybody wants to win,” he said. “Everybody's frustrated with last year. I think where you can have a difference of opinion is the approach that takes and some of the hard decisions that have to be made as you transition forward. But like I said, our perspective is we're going to do the things to improve the team, and one of the things that is very important is having Myles in our organization.”
Berry was asked directly why using a Garrett trade to acquire assets to improve the team is not the better option. Garrett, 29, is coming off his two greatest seasons, but he has indicated he may need surgery to correct a foot condition in both feet.
“I think there are multiple avenues to building a team and multiple approaches to collecting resources,” Berry said. “So Myles is the best defensive player in football. He's still in his prime. We still have him under contract for multiple years, and we think it's best to have him on the roster.”
Berry said at the Senior Bowl – before Garrett’s trade request -- that it was fair to assume the Browns would sign Garrett to a new contract that would keep him in Cleveland for the rest of his career.
He did not deny those discussions are continuing, but wouldn’t speculate when a new deal might be completed.
“Whenever you get into extension talks, they can happen at any time,” Berry said.
On other matters:
Deshaun Watson
Berry indicated the Browns are satisfied that “there’s nothing nefarious” that occurred that resulted in a second surgery on Watson’s re-torn right Achilles tendon.
“Unfortunately, he turned his foot [or] ankle that caused the re-tear during the normal stages of the recovery process. I know there's been a lot of speculation and everything out there, but there's nothing nefarious. It's just an unfortunate accident. So our focus is on making sure that he gets healthy and can be back to normal.”
Berry reiterated that Watson will miss “significant time,” but would not rule him out entirely for 2025.
Nick Chubb
In a surprising twist, Berry said he expected the uber-popular running back to test the free agent market.
Chubb previously said he didn’t want to play for any team but the Browns. Apparently, the Browns are not prepared to offer him a contract to return and complete his comeback from two knee surgeries in 2023.
“I would say at this point that we do expect Nick to hit the market,” Berry said. “Obviously, his contract is up this year. We’ll meet with his reps and everything like that, but it’s something that obviously we need to work through over the next couple weeks.”
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
“I wish I had a specific update for you on Jeremiah. I can say that he’s slowly making progress. He’s going through all that’s required medically, but I don’t have anything specific on that right now,” he said.
The quarterback(s) search
Berry said salary cap constraints would not be a factor in signing or trading for a veteran quarterback.
“It will not be prohibitive for us to do things if the opportunities present themselves,” he said.
Berry declined to say if the Browns were interested in pursuing Matthew Stafford, who has been cleared to talk to other teams by the Rams.
As for the much-maligned quarterback class in this year’s draft, Berry is not convinced of the negative projections.
“I think that remains to be seen,” he said. “You never really know how it's going to turn out. Our job is really just to do the work we can to get these guys focused as players and make the decision that’s best for us.”
Shedeur Sanders
Berry was asked what he makes of all the references to the Browns being posted on social media by Sanders, and the positive reference Deion Sanders has previously made to former teammate Bill Musgrave, who recently was named Browns quarterbacks coach.
“I don’t make much of it, just because it’s a long way to go,” Berry said. “But I will say this: We got a chance to spend some time with Shedeur at the East-West [Shrine Bowl]. We’ll get some time to spend with him during the upcoming week. He’s a fantastic individual.
“He’s really smart, really driven, grew up around football and was highly successful. So it’s been a pleasure to spend time with him. We’re looking forward to spending more over the next several weeks, but there’s still a long way to go with everything. And so we’ll work through that as appropriate.”
Travis Hunter
The two-way Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado is seen as a receiver first by the Browns, Berry said. Many other teams consider Hunter a cornerback first.
“He can play both,” Berry said. “I do think that there’s just an element where his superpower … they’re really his ball skills and that’s a position where you can use it a hundred times during the season versus maybe 30 on the high end. But look, we’ll have our coaches and scouts fight it out in terms of where he should be on the board, but any team he goes to would be happy to have him.”
Abdul Carter
Berry said he believes the Penn State edge rusher, who is listed at 251 pounds, can be an every-down defensive end in Jim Schwartz’s 4-3 defensive scheme.
“He’s tough, physical, a rare athlete with outstanding speed,” Berry said. “He’s special in his own regard that he can play off the ball, he can rush the passer. So he’s an excellent prospect.
“He’s not too light [to play DE in a 4-3.]”
What's up with No. 2 pick?
Like the GMs sitting at No. 1 (Tennessee’s Mike Borgonzi) and No. 3 (the Giants’ Joe Schoen), Berry said he is “open to anything.”
“What we’ll look to do is maximize the No. 2 as a resource, and that’s whether we select a quarterback, select a non-quarterback, or move the asset for something else,” he said. “All of those decisions are fortunately ones that we don’t have to make for a couple of weeks, but we’ll work through a bunch of different scenarios and really it starts with just getting to know the prospects and once we feel like we have a good feel for the prospects, then we can make some of the strategic decisions.”