Cleveland Browns: Andrew Berry executive of the year?
By Josh Brown
If Stefanski is in up for COY, where is the love for Andrew Berry?
The Cleveland Browns manhandling of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday has started the run on Kevin Stefanski as the front runner of coach of the year. Well, that one was already written, so I decided what about Andrew Berry?
If Kevin Stefanski is in the running for coach of the year, Berry must have made some moves to help him out, right?
Let’s see what the youngest GM’s players have done for the Browns this season. Is it executive of the year worthy?
Big time free-agent signings
Austin Hooper: Berry went out and snagged Hooper on the first day of free agency with a contract that made him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. Hooper was coming off back to back 70 catch seasons and looked to be the perfect fit for coach Stefanski’s tight end heavy system. While most expected bigger numbers from the high-priced free agent Hooper has had a solid season catching the ball with 30 catches for 286 yards a couple of touchdowns.
Hooper has also been solid in the run game helping the Browns lead the NFL in rushing at 157.8 yards per game. In the end, more was expected from Hooper, but he has done his job game in and game out. The hope is as the offense and Baker Mayfield keeps growing, the numbers will be there.
Jack Conklin: Berry’s next move was grabbing the best offensive lineman on the market in Jack Conklin. Berry once again went all in, making Conklin the third-highest paid tackle in the NFL with a three-year $42 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. This deal has paid off in spades this season.
Conklin is having his finest overall season since he was an All-Pro in 2016. Conklin missed one game early in the year but has been on the field for 92 percent of the snaps this season. He has given up just one sack and been penalized once for holding. This could qualify as the best move Berry made all offseason.