Browns general manager Andrew Berry builds off 'pretty good baseline' with defensive moves

ORLANDO, FLA. — There would be some who take the lack of a lot of big-named outside free agents signed by the Browns as a reason for concern.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry isn't one of those. Instead, to him, the fact the organization re-signed as many of their own free agents as they did those from the outside is a testament to what they had on the roster.

"I think once your roster becomes more mature and you have an established core, the balance will lean more retention than maybe external signings," Berry told a small group of beat writers, including the Beacon Journal, on Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. "Whether it’s early extensions for guys or veterans that may hit the market initially and bring them back. That’s not to say that we didn’t explore external additions or make a handful of external additions. That’s just kind of how it worked out this offseason with the values we put on a number of players around the league."

The highest majority of the re-signings came on the defensive side. That wasn't necessarily a shock for two reasons.

One was the success the defense had a year ago. The Browns finished the regular season as the league's top-ranked defense in multiple categories, including total yards allowed, passing yards allowed and third-down conversions.

The second reason why was because Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, two men who keep their cards really close to their vest, never denied an interest in bringing many of those free agents, especially on defense, back.

That's how the Browns end up re-signing defensive end Za'Darius Smith, defensive tackles Maurice Hurst II and Shelby Harris and safety Rodney McLeod. Beyond those four, they also re-signed punter Corey Bojorquez, offensive lineman Michael Dunn, who has been a key reserve for them the last few years, and, in a mild surprise after he had been released last preseason, kicker Cade York.

"We also thought we had a pretty good baseline," Berry said. "We were really pleased with the team last year, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. I think going into it I there was always going to be a little bit more of a retention than addition. I can’t say it was so purposeful that that was the only thinking we were looking for."

The only Browns starters who departed via free agency was defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (San Francisco 49ers) and linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. (Miami Dolphins) and Sione Takitaki (New England Patriots). Reserve linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk remains a free agent at this time.

The first two weeks of free agency did produce outside signings on defense in the form of defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson and linebackers Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush Jr. Still, if this was high school or college and someone was counting returning starters or lettermen, the percentage back for the Browns would be extremely high.

"If you can keep everyone you want to — sometimes it’s not reality — but there were cases we were able to bring guys back," Stefanski said Monday at the owners meetings. "I think the advantage is they know how we operate, know our program, we know what they’re about. So those are guys that fit our culture, team and scheme, so excited about that."

The changes on offense through free agency and one big trade fit the relative changes that the offensive coaching staff have undergone. The Browns completely re-shaped the offensive staff, in a way even more pronounced than what they did a year ago when they brought Jim Schwartz in as defensive coordinator.

The Browns hired a new offensive coordinator (Ken Dorsey), running backs coach (Duce Staley), tight ends coach/pass game specialist (Tommy Rees), offensive line coach (Andy Dickerson), assistant offensive line coach (Roy Istvan) and offensive assistant/run game specialist (Nick Charlton). They then added two free-agent quarterbacks (Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley), two free-agent running backs (D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines), a blocking back/tight end (Giovanni Ricci) and a tackle (Hakeem Odeniji) while also trading for a big-name wide receiver (Jerry Jeudy).

While continuity is the story of the offseason for the defense, the offense's offseason story will be trying to adjust to so many different faces. There are challenges to that the Browns' defensive success a season ago after all the changes masked.

"I think one, you're building new relationships, just both personal relationships and working relationships," Berry said. "And then two, Jim Schwartz always says this, just because you can do a lot of things like should you? Because you want healthy brainstorming and idea exchange, you want broad perspectives. But it does come a time where you do have to funnel it and narrow it and say, OK, this is what we're going to be philosophically. That happens over the course of the spring; that happens over the course of training camp."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' 'baseline' helps set direction for start of free agency