Andrew Berry Leaves Open the Door to a Second Deshaun Watson Contract in Cleveland

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has pushed back against the idea that the team’s plan is already fully set for quarterback Deshaun Watson’s future. In remarks reported by Pro Football Rumors, Berry indicated the Browns are not ruling out a continuation of Watson’s tenure beyond what has long been viewed as the endpoint of his current contract. The comments matter because they keep Cleveland’s quarterback timeline flexible in an offseason when stability at the position is one of the most valuable levers a franchise can pull.

Berry’s framing, as reported, was straightforward: he would not say the Browns have reached a point where only one outcome is possible. “I think everything is on the table,” Berry said during an appearance, according to the report. While the statement did not specify what a new deal would look like, it directly challenges the recurring narrative that 2026 has been treated as Watson’s final season with the Browns.

The background to Berry’s comments is tied to how Watson’s contract has been discussed publicly. Since his return to Cleveland, the quarterback has been a complicated centerpiece of the organization’s roster planning, and 2026 has often been described as his last expected season under the existing arrangement. That timeline, as reflected in how the report characterizes the team’s thinking, is part of why Berry’s decision to keep options open stands out. If Cleveland is willing to revisit the contract timeline, it can affect both immediate roster construction and the franchise’s long-term quarterback strategy.

At the same time, this is still far from a confirmation of a new contract. Berry’s comments, as reported, suggest the Browns have an internal decision framework that can accommodate multiple possibilities, including retention. That is a meaningful report for fans and for the team’s planning process, but it does not resolve the key questions that typically follow such statements, including how Cleveland would structure a second deal and what cost, cap, and roster tradeoffs would come with it.

The Browns’ quarterback situation also has second-order effects. Decisions about a franchise quarterback influence how the team prioritizes the rest of the roster, including offensive line continuity, receiver development, and play-calling expectations. If Cleveland believes it can build around Watson beyond 2026, it can justify investments aimed at competing during the final years of his next contract, rather than treating 2026 as a reset point.

For what to watch next, the most important item is whether Cleveland management follows these comments with additional clarification in later settings, such as team offseason programming, contract discussions, or broader front-office messaging. Another key development will be whether the Browns’ offseason moves begin to reflect a short-term “bridge” approach to 2026 or a longer-term commitment. In the near term, this statement keeps uncertainty alive, and that uncertainty is itself a factor in how the Browns will think about their roster for the seasons that follow.

Because this account is based on a reported quote rather than an official Browns or NFL announcement, readers should treat it as a sign of possibility more than a contract guarantee. Even when a general manager says “everything is on the table,” the ultimate decision can still depend on negotiations, salary-cap realities, and how Watson’s performance and availability fit Cleveland’s standards.