CLEVELAND, Ohio – We are constantly learning about Andrew Berry as a GM. It was not surprising when Browns sophomore executive vice president of Football Operations and General Manager, said on Wednesday: “The commercial market will be something we will always be in”, but it helped to inform us about his approach.
The trade market in the NFL is catching up with other leagues. The attack by defenders looking to switch teams will only lead to this faster.
Still, there is an inefficiency that can be exploited by smart GMs from analytically-oriented teams – and the Browns have just that, and someone who has worked under the command of a few people without fear of entering the commercial pool.
Sashi Brown, John Dorsey and Howie Roseman are all aggressive operators. Berry spent the most recent of his formative years working with these three, starting with his first stint at the Browns in 2016.
Still, negotiating is difficult in the NFL, and Berry explained why.
“The assumption is always that people are not willing to negotiate,” he said. “I don’t think that is necessarily the case. I think the financial aspect plays a part in that. I think the other thing is, let’s say you are switching to a third baseman and you are a baseball team, playing third base for the Yankees or the Cardinals is basically the same. This may not be the case with football. All of these nuances make finding business partners a little more challenging in our sport than others. “
Berry and the Browns will always look for edges and inefficiencies that they can take advantage of. With extra withdrawal capital and the ability to receive some cash, they may be able to find some in the trading market, while teams are looking to navigate a lower limit.
* Consider me curious to see how things go with Rashard Higgins. Berry said at the same time that the Browns would like him back, but he also acknowledged that he has the right to make the best decision for him.
“Suffice it to say that we would like to have Rashard back,” said Berry. “He obviously played a key role for us last year and we have a very positive history with him. See, agency can be difficult and, obviously, he has earned the right to make the decision that is most appropriate for him. We will maintain consistently good communication with him and his representatives. We’ll see where it goes. “
Does this mean that the Browns want Higgins back, but only at his price? Perhaps Higgins, who has expressed his desire to stay in Cleveland, will find something more than the Browns are willing to pay him – or at least define the market for what it will take to bring him back. This is obscure.
* Berry avoided many long-term conversations when it came to Baker Mayfield, but I’m not reading much about it. I keep going back to January, when Berry said: “It was really the same trajectory with Myles (Garrett). Obviously, we closed his deal in the summer, but it’s not something that I really feel comfortable talking about during the off-season. I just don’t think it’s the right forum. We are very pleased with Baker. “
On Wednesday, almost all comments on Mayfield were strictly limited to 2021.
“We have been very consistent with our messages about Baker that we think he has had a very strong season for us, we like maturation and growth, both on and off the field and we hope that he will continue to make strides in his second year in the attack, ”said Berry.
Most of these large extensions are made in the summer or just before the season, so there is no hurry for that. Berry compartmentalized his off-season later on his call and the extensions were not at the top of the list.
“We have a lot of important decisions that we’re going to make, and the first one comes with guys who have expired contracts in the next two and a half weeks,” said Berry in response to a question about a possible extension for Nick Chubb. “We have several players who are eligible for extension, of which Nick is one of them. This is something that we will resolve as we pass through the off-season. “
Berry and this front office are not going to be rushed at all. There are clear steps ahead and it starts with the fifth year options for Mayfield and Denzel Ward, which do not need to be exercised until May.
* Was it your most interesting answer about the final defensive position and the importance of finding a running mate for Garrett?
“I don’t know if I would necessarily highlight this position among others throughout the defense, if I’m guessing maybe where you want to go with this issue,” he said. “I think it’s great to have two bookends along the defensive line – few teams do. I think there are a number of different configurations that can make us successful on the defensive line. We will try to add talents in that place, not unlike what we would do in the entire defense and in all ranks, but I would not necessarily be zeroed there. “
I wouldn’t be surprised if adding another cornerback, even with Greedy Williams returning, was equally, if not more, important.
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