PHOENIX – As the 2026 NFL Annual Meeting kicks off, Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry met with local media for the first time since the new league year began on March 11.
He covered a variety of topics, from the free agency acquisitions and the draft to DE Myles Garrett and the outlook on their quarterback room.
Here are the top pieces of new and other notes from Berry's time with the local media.
Addressing Myles Garrett
As reports surfaced about contract modifications for DE Myles Garrett, Berry emphasized that those adjustments are not correlated to the idea of trading their reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
"Myles is a career Brown," Berry said. "He is one of the faces of our organization. I think we've been very clear both past and present in terms of our goals."
Berry also reiterated he feels they are in a good spot with Garrett, who signed a contract extension in 2025 that runs through the 2030 season. Berry also said they like the core of their team, which features a dominant defense led by Garrett.
"We'll always do what we think is in the best interest of the organization," Berry said. "We really like our core. I think as we look at the team, we have an elite young defense. We have a really rebuilt offensive line. We have nine picks this upcoming draft and I think seven are in the top 150. Three in the top 40. We have a good offensive young core that we brought in last year. And honestly, as we saw last year, there are more than one way to generate assets in the NFL. So, we'll always do what's best for the organization, but we feel really good about our roster right now before the draft."
Outlook on free agency additions
In the early stages of free agency, the Browns emphasized rebuilding their offensive line with the additions through the acquisition of T Tytus Howard in a trade with the Texans, the free agent signings in G Zion Johnson and C/G Elgton Jenkins and re-signing G Teven Jenkins.
"As we look specifically with that offensive line group, good players, but also very versatile," Berry said. "And particularly like with Elgton and Tytus, both of those guys are players who can play at a quality starting level at both positions across the offensive line. And that's super helpful because it really is a war of attrition with that position group. I think something like we looked at it as either 23 or 24 teams last year played less than 50 percent with their starting five. Of course, we were one of them. And so, to have that resiliency built into a position group where you have guys that can start all across the line of scrimmage, it's really important, in addition to the flexibility it gives you going into the draft."
Berry said as they move through the different stages of the offseason, they will solidify which position Elgton Jenkins will play for Cleveland. However, Berry did highlight that they view Elgton Jenkins as more of an interior player, even with his experience at positions across the offensive line.
And while they added key players to their offensive line in free agency, Berry added that those additions create flexibility for the draft. He feels confident in the group of linemen as it currently stands, which allows them to pursue the draft openly.
Vision of the quarterback room
The Browns will have a decision to make about who their starting quarterback will be for the 2026 season, as the room currently consists of veteran Deshaun Watson and two second-year players in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
However, Berry said they continue to keep their flexibility if circumstances change or opportunities arise about adding a fourth quarterback to the room.
"Our lean would be if we do add someone to the quarterback room, it would be someone who's a younger player most likely," Berry said. "But I can't state that definitively because I don't know what the next couple of weeks will hold. Anyone that we bring in at any spot on the roster, our thought is that they are competing. They're competing to play. They have something that we like in their skill set. And our expectation would be for them to work harder."
As the quarterback room takes shape, Berry also explained that all of their quarterbacks have the opportunity to compete for the starting position, and that head coach Todd Monken will make the decision on the starting quarterback.
"I'd say as we sit here on March 29, and nobody has touched the grass, nobody has really worked with our coaching staff, I wouldn't handicap it for anyone," Berry said. "I think everyone in that room deserves opportunity. And so, we'll certainly know a lot more as we get to the spring. We'll know even more as we get to camp. But I think honestly, we wouldn't be doing the right thing for the team, and we wouldn't be doing the right thing for that position, if we didn't go in with it eyes wide open."
Preparation for the draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and preparations continue for not only the Browns, but also for the rest of the league.
Cleveland holds nine drafts picks in this year's draft, including the No. 6 and No. 24 picks in the first round. They also have the No.39 pick early in the second round.
Last year, the Browns traded down from the No. 2 pick to No. 5 and selected DT Mason Graham. Now, as Berry and the Browns wrap up the evaluation phase, they will take the next step forward in their preparations with scenario planning over the next month.
"I don't know that we are going to be picking six at the end of April, and if we are picking six, I have no idea what we're going to take at this point," Berry said. "And so, we try and remain flexible as we go into draft weekend, and we want to use the asset in the best way possible, whether that's sitting and picking, trading up, trading down, trading it for a veteran player. I know I said this last year, and people thought it was just GM talk, but it really is the truth."
