Owner Jimmy Haslam calls Browns' 2024 struggles 'perplexing' - ESPN

LAS COLINAS, Texas — Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he is perplexed by his team's 3-10 record but will evaluate its performance in totality after the season — including the outlook at quarterback.

He also expressed support for coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry.

«We went from 11-6 and making the playoffs to 3-10, so it's a little perplexing what happened,» Haslam told ESPN as he departed the NFL owners meetings Wednesday.

Asked whether he has the right pieces in place with Stefanski and Berry, Haslam added: «I do. We do. We're very supportive.»

Berry and Stefanski signed contract extensions before the 2024 season and have made the playoffs together in 2020 and 2023.

The primary issue for Cleveland is the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson is owed $92 million in guaranteed money over the next two years and has struggled with injuries and poor play since the team acquired him from the Houston Texans and then signed him to a then-record deal in 2022. He's currently rehabbing an Achilles tear suffered in Week 7.

Cutting Watson would trigger dead salary cap hits well above $100 million.

Jameis Winston has provided a spark with Watson sidelined, surpassing 300 passing yards in three of his six starts, but the Browns are 2-4 during that stretch.

Asked about the outlook of the quarterback position, Haslam said it's too early to make any decisions.

«We need to get through the season and we will look at everything,» he told ESPN.

The Browns are slated to have a top-10 pick in the NFL draft — their first selection in the first round since 2021 — which they could use on a quarterback. Signing a veteran signal caller is also an option.

But the team's issues this season transcend the quarterback.

Last