4 Browns on Thin Ice After Stefanski, Berry Extensions

Wednesday brought a much sense of relief to Cleveland Browns fans as the team's offseason workouts (OTAs) near their end. After months of anticipation, the Browns finally announced that they had signed head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry to contract extensions.

The news comes about a week after Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot reported that ownership wanted to have the extensions finalized by the end of mandatory minicamp, which lasts from June 11-13.

With one of the NFL's better head coach-GM duos locked in, the Browns can turn their attention to chasing a Super Bowl. It's now clear that Stefanski and Berry aren't going anywhere any time soon, so don't be surprised if certain players don't fit into their long-term goals.

With that in mind, here are four Browns who could be on thin ice following Stefanski and Berry's extensions.

1. Elijah Moore, WR

While several Browns left much to be desired last season was Elijah Moore. The veteran pass-catcher was acquired last offseason to provide Deshaun Watson with another weapon since Amari Cooper was the quarterback's only other legitimate wideout at the time.

But if you've been following the Browns, you know how Moore's first year in Cleveland went. Whether it was due to a rotating group of QBs or the struggles that come with moving to a new city, the 24-year-old left fans demanding more, registering just 59 receptions for 640 yards and two TDs across 17 games.

While Moore has been working hard this offseason to bounce back, his long-term future in Cleveland is far from secure. The 2024 campaign marks the final year of his rookie deal and if he can't prove early on that he deserves an extension, there's a good chance that GM Berry won't hesitate to allow him to hit the open market next spring.

There's also the possibility that Moore might not see as many targets as he did last year (104). Competition will be stiffer come September with Jerry Jeudy — who signed a three-year extension in March — now in the mix while Cedric Tillman and David Bell are looking to take that next step in their development. That's without mentioning Jamari Thrash, who Cleveland drafted 156th overall in April.

If Moore can't prove that he's capable of being a legitimate WR2, he might not have many games remaining in a Browns jersey.

2. Deshaun Watson, QB

Is it crazy to think that Deshaun Watson could be on thin ice despite only having spent two seasons with the Browns? Maybe, but also maybe not.

The Browns received a ton of scrutiny when they inked Deshaun Watson to a five-year, $230 million contract (that's fully guaranteed) nearly immediately after acquiring him from the Houston Texans. Off-field issues aside, it was seen as a lot of money for a quarterback who sat out the entire 2021 campaign one year after having the best performance of his career.

While there are still three years remaining on his deal, Watson's performance hasn't exactly matched his pricetag. The 28-year-old veteran gunslinger has been limited to 12 starts over the last two seasons due to injury. During that stretch, Watson has completed just 59.8% of passes for 2,217 passing yards, 14 TDs (to 9 interceptions), and an 81.7 passer rating.

Considering how he's slated to carry a $63.7 million cap hit in 2024, it's getting harder and harder to like that trade.

If Watson falters during the upcoming season, there are some exit plans on the horizon. Although the Browns won't save any money by releasing him at any point next year, they can free up $859,679 if they trade him before June 1, 2025, or $45.7 million after that date, per Spotrac.

Even if Cleveland has to eat nearly $63 million in dead money next year with a pre-June deal, it could be worth it to avoid paying the final two years of Watson's contract.

Finding a trade partner wouldn't be easy, but you can never say never in the NFL. There's always the possibility that Berry & Co. could fool a desperate GM into taking the struggling QB off their hands if things don't turn around soon.

Besides, Joe Flacco's late-season heroics showed Browns fans that they don't need one of the league's highest-paid QBs to find success.

3. Shelby Harris, DE

The Browns have one of the better defensive lines in the NFL and part of that success has to do with their impressive depth. Defensive end Shelby Harris is one reserve player that Stefanski's staff relied on last season, deploying the veteran on 42% of offensive snaps across 17 games (7 starts).

While Harris' first campaign in town was far from the worst, he didn't exactly do much to stand out. His 11 solo tackles and 1.5 sacks were among the lowest outputs of his nine-year career as he also added five defended passes and a forced fumble. He had solid moments as a pass rusher, but his run defense (68.5) and tackle (41.2) grades on Pro Football Focus indicate that his career is on the decline.

Although Harris' job is likely secure for now, things could quickly change. The former Illinois State defender will face additional competition in training camp after the Browns added rookie defensive linemen Michael Hall (Round 2, Pick 54) and Jowon Briggs (Round 7, Pick 243) at the 2024 NFL Draft.

While Hall and Briggs might not be as experienced as Harris, their future with the franchise is likely more secure. While they'll be playing on the first year of their rookie contracts next season, Harris is slated to become a free agent once the campaign ends.

Considering that the Browns can save $2.3 million by cutting him at any point this summer, it's in Harris' best interest to step up by proving to his coach and general manager that he belongs.

4. Jedrick Wills Jr., OT

Jedrick Wills Jr. has been one of the tougher Browns to get a read on throughout the last few seasons.

Selected 10th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Wills found immediate success with the Browns, providing them with solid protection as he started each of his 15 rookie appearances. Unfortunately, it's only been downhill from here as the former Alabama blocker continues to spend more time off the gridiron than on it due to his lengthening injury history (13 missed games since 2021).

The Browns picked up Wills' fifth-year option at the beginning of May 2023, which raised a lot of Cleveland fans' eyebrows given that his play was on the downturn. It turns out that the decision may have been premature given that Wills finished his fourth season with new lows in both offense (54.0) and pass block (60.1) PFF grades after surrendering 29 pressures on 319 passing downs.

For comparison, he only allowed 18 pressures on 507 opportunities as a rookie.

It's safe to say that Wills is facing an uphill battle this summer. Not only must he bounce back from his lackluster performance, but he's also attempting to rebound from a serious MCL injury that forced him to miss Cleveland's final nine regular-season games and lone playoff matchup.

While Wills was the first player that GM Berry drafted during his tenure, that doesn't mean the former's future is safe. First-round busts have been tossed aside before and a failure to turn his career around could see Wills being the next name added to that list.

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