NEWSLETTER
NFL Notes —
On Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns extended coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry. Stefanski has been with the team for five seasons, leading them to two playoff appearances. He received his second NFL Coach of the Year award in 2023.
Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry Get Extensions from the Browns
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry leading the Cleveland Browns,” Jimmy and Dee Haslam said in a release. “Since the day they were hired, each has worked tirelessly to help the Cleveland Browns win.
“Last season was a prime example. Despite facing multiple player injuries and using five different starting quarterbacks, Andrew, and his staff built a roster that adapted well, while Kevin and his staff led the team to its second playoff appearance in four years, earning Coach of the Year honors for the second time in that period.
“They are two of the brightest people we know and selfless people who only care about what is best for the Cleveland Browns. We are thrilled that Kevin and Andrew will remain with the team for the future.”
Stefanski joined the Browns in 2020 after working his entire NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he started in an administrative role and later became the offensive coordinator. Berry returned to Cleveland in 2020 after stints as the team’s vice president of player personnel from 2016 to 2018 and as the Philadelphia Eagles’ vice president of football operations in 2019, taking control of the roster.
The Browns made it to the playoffs last season but lost to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. This came after reaching the divisional round in Stefanski’s first year with the team in 2020.
Zac Taylor on Ja’Marr Chase
With wide receiver extensions coming in bunches this offseason, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is in line for a new deal, and the spotlight on the Bengals will only intensify the longer it takes to get one done.
On Tuesday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was asked if Chase would attend the team’s mandatory minicamp this week.
“I’ve talked with Ja’Marr,” Taylor said. “I won’t get into our conversations, but we’ve had great dialogue.”
Eagles WR Devonta Smith Says He’s Not Bothered By Recent Extensions
The Philadelphia Eagles jumped the market when they inked Devonta Smith to a three-year extension worth $75 million in April. With the wide receiver market exploding, that decision looks very good these days. Well, for the Eagles, anyway.
Since Smith signed his extension in April, teammate A.J. Brown, Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle all signed extensions for more money than the one that Smith signed. Justin Jefferson’s new deal this week was bigger than all of them.
Still, Smith says he has no regrets about signing when he did. “You can’t be counting the pockets of others,” Smith said. “I’m where I want to be. This is where I wanted to be. At the end of the day, it was still life-changing for me. Those guys that got their deals, they deserve it. Great players and great people. At the end of the day, we’re all blessed.”
Micah Parsons Looking to be the Next Highest-Paid Non-QB, Eventually
Justin Jefferson took that crown with his mega-extension this week, and Micah Parsons already has his eyes on the label. However, he’s okay with waiting his turn as long as he eventually gets his deal. Parsons said on Tuesday that he’s not in a rush and that his absence from Cowboys’ mandatory OTAs this week has nothing to do with his contract.
The Cowboys have roughly $12 million in cap space and large contract extensions looming for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. Parsons acknowledged this on Tuesday.
“I kind of know where the money is,” Parsons said. “It’s not like I see the Cowboys with $90 million in cap space.”
The problem for Dallas is that the longer it takes to get Parsons extended, the more expensive it will be.
“This market is going to just jump up, and the cap goes up again next year,” Parsons said. “They’re talking about these contracts might for a high-caliber player might be up to $40 million by then.”
