The Cleveland Browns are approaching their final “all-in” year.
Cleveland Browns Never Able To Put It All Together Despite Championship Calibre Roster
Having had a star-studded team for the past 2-3 years under the stewardship of general manager, Andrew Berry and head coach, Kevin Stefanski, the Browns have still yet to make a deep playoff run or reclaim the AFC North since their last title in 1989 – an absurd 35 year draught- although this team became the Baltimore Ravens; the “new” iteration of the Cleveland Browns, started in 1999, has never won the AFC North.
However, this year will likely be the last of this impressive starting team – certainly on offense; one that has changed precious little over the past 2 years. All-Pro offensive linemen, Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller and Jack Conklin, along with Pro Bowl tight end, David Njoku will all have their cap hits double (or more) in 2025, whilst left tackle, Jedrick Wills, Jr., All-Pro running back, Nick Chubb and 5 x Pro Bowler, Amari Cooper are out of contract at the end of the season.
In fact, right now, Cleveland are set to be a whopping $66 million over the salary cap in 2025– a shockingly high number given the fact that they also have 2 key defensive starters in Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah and Greg Newsome both also out of contract at the end of the year.
Amari Cooper A Brown For How Much Longer?
Given this, one of the Browns’ most notable stars over the past 2 years, Amari Cooper, who has had quite the career rejuvenation in Ohio after an underwhelming last year in Dallas in 2021, putting up back to back 1,150+ yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, making a return to the Pro Bowl in the latter.
Yet, having literally just turned 30 (his birthday is June 17th), Cooper has been holding out of mandatory minicamp in the hope of expediting a new contract after talks have seemingly gone awry due to differences on the length of a contract extension that would come into effect starting his age-31 year.
Even as, ironically, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski have both, somewhat ironically, recently signed contract extensions.
Now, Berry, on an appearance on NFL Network’s The Insiders, whilst giving the former Dallas Cowboy and Raider praise as to his importance to the side, has done little assuage fans in the form of meaningful statements that Cooper may yet remain a member of the team for now and in years to come, per Mike Garafolo.
#Browns GM Andrew Berry on The Insiders on @nflnetwork when asked by @judybattista about WR Amari Cooper: “We’ll navigate business considerations, business aspects as it goes, but he is a big part of our team and, just as importantly, a big part of our culture.” pic.twitter.com/YodGowaGXy
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 18, 2024
Andrew Berry Not Making Any Promises As To Amari Cooper Future
The immediate outlook to this should by no means be bleak for the Dawg Pound faithful. It is appears that to Berry, Stefanski and, really, anyone with eyes, grasp that Amari Cooper is the focal point of the passing offense, and remains one of the premier short-mid distance route runners in the entire National Football League.
Having said that, players get old – and after 30 – often fast. Agreeing a long term extension with a year left on his deal may well be risky for the Browns, who are already going into 2025 and beyond in legitimate cap hell. Can Cleveland truly afford to give what will be a 31 year old wide receiver an expensive 3 year deal when there are multiple Pro Bowl wideouts coming out of the draft year after year, often very pro-ready.
Ideally, both sides come to an amicable solution, and, at a guess, it seems that with some concessions or perhaps a small pay raise, the Browns may be able to convince the former CFC National Champion to play out the 2024 season, or get away with a 1 year extension. Hopefully, the Browns can keep the gang together for one last big year before they come back down to cap-Earth in 2025.
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