The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Optimism over future of Delpit, Williams
GM also discusses Mayfield, Beckham, more
The Browns have to improve defensively, Andrew Berry acknowledged Jan. 20 in a Zoom conference, and that improvement will start by getting cornerback Greedy Williams and safety Grant Delpit back from injuries that robbed them of the 2020 season.
Berry, a year into his job as Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager, naturally said he seeks improvement at every position. But after investing heavily on offense last year by signing right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper in free agency, then spending the 10th overall draft pick on left tackle Jedrick Wills along with other moves, he did say attention this offseason will focus on defense.
“We can have improvement anywhere,” Berry said during the Zoom conference, which lasted more than 35 minutes. “Understand that obviously we think we can certainly boost the defense as we go into 2021. It’s probably too early to make any declarative or definitive statements, but certainly understand the strengths and weaknesses of the team.”
Delpit suffered a torn Achilles tendon and Williams a shoulder injury that led to nerve damage in training camp.
Both were projected as starters. Their absence is one reason the Browns gave up 31 passing touchdowns in 2020.
“We’re confident in both guys,” Berry said. “You never know with significant injuries how that ultimately unfolds.
“The one thing I can tell you about Grant and Greedy is the way those two have attacked their approach to rehab and staying engaged with the team and really they prepared every week as if they were going to play even when it became obvious that they weren’t. I’m very optimistic and very bullish on their physical recovery and then ultimately, when they do get back, of being able to play at a high level for us.”
Seventeen players on the roster will be unrestricted free agents when the league year starts in mid-March without new contracts. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and wide receiver Rashard Higgins top the list.
Berry also has decisions to make about some players under contract. Running back Nick Chubb is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Browns must decide whether to pick up
the fifth-year options on quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward. Both were firstround draft picks in 2018. Next comes offering contract extensions to Mayfield and Ward.
“I would like to keep as many of our good players as long as possible,” Berry said when asked specifically about Ward and Chubb. “That’s probably the easiest way to say it. Those guys are highly skilled at what they do, and they’re great people.”
The Browns are roughly $24.6 million under the salary cap heading into the offseason, according to overthecap.com. Nine teams have more cap room. The salary cap has risen annually since it was first implemented in 1994 and was at an all-time high of $198.2 million in 2020. However, because the novel coronavirus pandemic caused a
decrease in team revenues, the 2021 cap is projected to fall to $176 million for 2021, putting all teams in a dilemma.
Berry would not get specific about his offseason strategy. He was on Zoom last week with media covering the Browns and basically gave the same answer he did then as he did Jan. 20 when asked about picking up Mayfield’s option and ultimately offering a contract extension. But you don’t have to squint to read between the lines.
“I think that’s something that is a little bit more personal to me, the player and the agent,” Berry said. “What I can tell you is, I would echo the comments I had last week with Baker. He did an excellent job this year. He led us to our first playoff appearance in eons.
“We got 12 wins, played winning football all year and developed a really strong relationship with Kevin and the offensive staff and really, like I mentioned last week, he really thrives on a weekly basis both on and off the field. We are very, very pleased with him. We would not be where we were at the end of the season without his performance. He had a really tremendous season.”
Berry hinted, without saying so directly, that Odell Beckam Jr. is in the Browns’ plans for next season. Beckham
suffered a season ending knee injury in the seventh game of the season. It was about that time that the Browns offense took off.
Mayfield’s seventh interception of the season was thrown on a pass intended for Beckham on the play when Beckam was injured. Mayfield threw only one interception over the last nine games of the regular season without Beckham in the lineup plus one more in two playoff games.
“In terms of the first half and the second half of the season, I do think that there is an element of our offense just evolving over the course of the year,” Berry said. “Part of that is just chemistry, time on task or you name it. That’s really independent of Odell.
“He acclimated nicely with our program, with Kevin and with his teammates. With Odell, you always want to have someone that talented on the field so maybe the easy (answer) is you always miss him. He’s a great player. He is a dynamic weapon. You like having dynamic weapons on the field.”
Beckham is continuing to rehab from his injury away from team trainers and doctors. He caught 23 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns before the injury. He caught 74 passes before 1,035 yards and four touchdowns last season.