Q: Many fans (and radio hosts) seem to think Paul DePodesta’s exit signals a change for Andrew Berry as well. Do you believe his leaving for Colorado is an isolated move? Or a precursor to Berry either being promoted or to him following DePodesta out the door?
— @ideashift
Q: How about moving Andrew Berry into DePodesta’s previous role, and bringing in a football guy as our GM? Berry is loyal, smart and measured. But he’s just not successful enough as a talent evaluator to build a great roster.
— @RyanLencL
A: Great minds … and two questions with one answer. Talk about streamlining the process.
I think DePodesta’s decision to return to baseball was independent of Berry. The Haslams could have serious decisions to make depending on how the final nine games go, but I haven’t gotten any indication this was the start of a pre-planned organizational overhaul.
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“I have always kept my eye on baseball, and this is an incredible opportunity to help make an impact in the next chapter of the Rockies,” DePodesta said, per the Rockies’ website.
But as I reflected on DePodesta’s decision to leave his post as chief strategy officer to go back to baseball, one of my first thoughts was whether Berry would move from his general manager role to more of an overseer. Chief strategy officer probably isn’t the right title, but president of football operations could work. The Haslams like and respect Berry and would likely prefer to keep him around, regardless of how they feel about him as a talent evaluator.
Berry brings value to an organization, but given his mixed results in talent acquisition, such a move makes sense … assuming the Browns could find the right GM. If Berry is comfortable with the change — which is a big if — he could be the perfect person to make such a hire. He did find Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who’s done a good job as Vikings GM after leaving the Browns.
The situation certainly requires watching.
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Q: Was Kevin Stefanski’s job security too tightly connected to saying yes to every idea that DePodesta came up with and could DePodesta’s departure actually liberate Stefanski to fully trust his own instincts?
— John Palazzo
A: I never viewed the situation like that. I don’t think Stefanski was in danger of being fired if he disagreed with DePodesta’s analytics.
With that said, it will be interesting to see if there’s an organization shift without DePodesta at the top. The Browns aren’t going to abandon research and analytics — the whole league relies on them — but there could be a decreased emphasis. That would be especially true in the draft process, particularly if there’s a change at GM.
Q: When will everyone stop obsessing over a certain fifth-round draft pick?
— @Tom_RedRight88
A: The Browns only made one fifth-round pick this year, so you must be referring to quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Given his immense popularity, which drives media coverage, I only envision two things that would curb the Sanders enthusiasm.
One: He plays and is a disaster. That would stop the talk of when he’ll get a chance and if he can be the long-term answer.
Two: The Browns draft a quarterback in the top 10 next year. That might not silence the Sanders talk, but it would shift the focus and quiet it for many.
Q: Will the Browns retire No. 44? Leroy Kelly HOF? Why not?
— Mark Ice
A: I’ve wondered that multiple times when watching rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. And obviously there have been plenty of others to wear the number since Kelly retired after the 1973 season.
If the Browns haven’t retired the number by now, I doubt they will. I do know teams feel the need to be careful with how many numbers they retire because there are 53 players on the roster and 16 on the practice squad, so flexibility is valuable.
Q: While I have been generally satisfied, even if underwhelmed, I do believe Dillon Gabriel needs a bit more time before any next-man-up-career-backup-insurance-ad label should be applied. And while I’m car-crash kind of excited to see Shedeur, is there any universe in which Deshaun Watson is the answer? In all the 2026 QB draft talk, I keep forgetting No. 4 is lurking. Can Watson be the guy he once was? (Not the creepy guy.)
— Josh Hindson
A: If there are infinite universes, then I’m sure one would have Watson as the answer. But on this planet, I just don’t see it. He’s had multiple chances with the Browns to regain the Pro Bowl form he had with the Texans — the reason the Browns mortgaged so much to get him — and he hasn’t come close. I just can’t imagine that would change coming off a twice-ruptured Achilles tendon.
Q: What would it be if you could attach a catchy name to the Browns-Jets game?
— @MrEd315
A: I was going to say the Tyrod Taylor Revenge Game, but Justin Fields is going to start at quarterback for the Jets. So how about: The Loser Gets Fernando Mendoza Bowl.
Q: Now that the 2025 season is over, isn’t it time to start building the 2026 draft pick store? How about the following trades to competitive “buyer” teams?
Trade David Njoku and Joel Bitonio to Tampa Bay for third- and fourth-round 2026 picks since Baker Mayfield’s offensive line needs help and they have no credible TE. Trade Denzel Ward to DB-poor Detroit for a third-round 2026 pick. Trade Jerome Ford to the RB-starved Chargers for a 2026 fifth- or sixth-rounder.
— C. Cole, Browns fan since 1962, Sheridan, Wyoming
A: You sent this last week, but there was no bye week mailbag.
I see why you laid out the plan you did, but I don’t think Berry got the offers that matched your desires. If he had gotten that offer for Ford, I believe he would’ve made the deal. I feel the same way about Njoku.
As for Bitonio, he didn’t want to be traded and the Browns weren’t going to move him. And Ward is too good and too young to dump for a third-round pick. The Browns haven’t gone all in on a rebuild, so they were looking for proper value, not just picks.
