PHOENIX, AZ — Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry wasted no time silening the noise surrounding the team’s 2026 outlook. Speaking from the NFL Owners Meetings on Monday, Berry confirmed that the Cleveland Browns QB competition remains wide open, while simultaneously shuting down any whispers of a Myles Garrett trade. After a 2025 season where Shedeur Sanders stepped in for seven games, the front office is refusing to crown a starter before the first whistle of the offseason program.
The Kiper-Yates Clash: Ty Simpson vs. Shedeur Sanders
The external pressure on Berry intensified this week following a heated exchange on the First Draft podcast. ESPN analyst Field Yates suggested Cleveland should use a 2026 first-round pick on Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson. The suggestion didn’t sit well with Mel Kiper Jr., who fired back that the Browns already have a superior talent in Sanders. Kiper was adamant that Sanders, despite a rocky 3-4 record as a starter last year, remains the higher-graded prospect. Sanders threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns in his 2025 stint, but he also struggled with 10 interceptions, leading many to wonder if Berry will look toward the draft for a more permanent solution.
Zac Jackson of The Athletic reported that Berry is intentionally cooling these debates. The GM noted that with a revamped coaching staff and no on-field drills yet completed, assigning a hierarchy now would be “premature.” The stadium atmosphere in Cleveland last December was electric when Sanders flashed his potential, but the front office clearly wants to see how he stacks up against a healthy Deshaun Watson and potential draft additions before making a call.
The $8 Million Shift and the Garrett Rumor Mill
Beyond the huddle, the focus remains on the defensive front. Rumors swirled after Adam Schefter and Mike Garafolo reported the Browns shifted **$8 million** of Myles Garrett’s base salary into early roster bonuses. Critics viewed the move as a potential precursor to a trade, but Berry rejected that theory with force. He called the five-time Pro Bowler a “career Brown,” insisting the financial moves were strictly internal cap management. Garrett is coming off a monstrous 23-sack season in 2025, and Berry’s latest rhetoric suggests the team is building around their star defender, not moving on from him.
“We expect every player on this roster to compete. The hierarchy isn’t set in March; it’s earned in the dirt during the offseason program. Myles is our cornerstone, and he’s not going anywhere.”— Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns General Manager
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Browns are navigating a high-stakes balancing act. By keeping the QB door open, Berry is keeping his options flexible for the 2026 NFL Draft in late April. If the team stands pat, they are betting on the development of Sanders or a resurgence from Watson. Defensively, the signing of veteran A.J. Epenesa to a $5 million deal signals a “win-now” mentality. The next major hurdle is the start of the offseason program in May, where the team will get its first look at sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins as he returns from a late-season ankle fracture. For a team that narrowly missed the postseason in 2025, these spring decisions will dictate whether they can finally reclaim the AFC North crown.
