Cleveland Browns: Andrew Berry continues to shine in second offseason

Andrew Berry’s return to the Cleveland Browns as the youngest GM in the NFL continues to be a rousing success. After last year’s offseason was set on making life easier on franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield, Berry set his sights on improving a porous defense this year. Like last year most scouts, media, and fans are impressed with what Berry has accomplished.

Berry sets his sights on targets in free agency, finds a number contract-wise, and sticks to it. The best part is that he does it without giving up future flexibility cap-wise. Berry has been able to grab headlines with big-name moves, but he has also added depth on all levels of the offense and defense in each offseason. This front office is methodical and sticks to whatever plan/strategy is in place whether they get the guy or not.

The best example of Berry in free agency was the John Johson III deal. Johnson himself said he had better offers out there and decided to come to the Browns based on the team’s future direction. Berry used the team’s success and found a number that combined with that enticed the best safety, in my opinion, in the NFL to come to Cleveland. That is some New England Patriots level stuff right there.

From a draft standpoint, he has shown no fear in taking players no matter the position in the draft as long as the value is there. He has balanced that with finding players of equal talent to others on the board that fills needs, such as Jedrick Wills, Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome, etc. He is also brilliant at manipulating getting value in the draft.

The perfect example was the move to take talented Notre Dame “linebacker” Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. To move up and grab a top 20 talent, Berry gave up pick No. 59 and 89, and not only did he get Owusu-Koramoah, but he was also able to grab the No. 113. That is minimizing the value loss incredibly and getting a huge talent to boot. It does not get much better than that.

The point here is that with Andrew Berry in charge of the front office and Kevin Stefanski coaching, the Browns seem to be in a prime position to challenge for a Superbowl for the foreseeable future. Yes, Cleveland, you read that right. So enjoy it while it lasts. You deserve it.