There is a path to divorce that would be financially bearable: The Browns could trade Watson in a post-June move this summer and free up $46 million in capital. Such a deal could look a lot like the one the Browns accepted from Houston in 2017, in which they took on the bloated contract of quarterback Brock Osweiler in exchange for the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2018 draft — who ultimately acquired the star was from Nick. Chubb– and a 2017 sixth-round pick.

However, there’s no guarantee such a deal is possible now unless the Browns are willing to part with a pick of comparable value, further increasing the cost of the regrettable decision they made to acquire Watson.

Even if Berry isn’t interested in thinking right now, dozens of others have already done so, and the autopsy isn’t pretty. We’ll never know who made the final decision on the Watson deal, but at this point Berry and the owner both share responsibility.

“I would say this, like we’ve always said, we were all on board,” Berry said. “Everyone is on board, and obviously with great commitment in that regard, that will always be the case.”

When it comes to charting a path forward, it’s difficult to predict how things might unfold for this organization.

Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski have brought the most stability to the franchise since returning as an expansion team in 1999. Stefanski has been named Coach of the Year twice, has a 1-2 record in three playoff appearances and has managed to keep the team going. a relatively stable track even amid frequent changes below center.

Despite his performance, the remaining eight games feel memorable. If the Browns continue to trudge toward a dark offseason at their current pace, anything seems possible regarding potential changes to the coaching staff and front office.

With their playoff hopes all but gone, the Browns still have jobs to play for in 2024.

“It’s obviously a disappointment. We didn’t play well enough,” Berry said. “We haven’t done the things that are necessary to get consistent results and consistent wins all season long. It’s disappointing for us internally, disappointing for our fans, and actually we all share in the record. It’s not just our players and coaches It’s me, it’s our staff, it’s our research group. Our focus this week is really on doing the things within our control to play quality football over the last eight weeks of the regular season because that’s what we have to do. haven’t done so far.”

However, it certainly appears that Watson may have played his last game in a Browns uniform — even if Berry has left the door open for a return, telling reporters that “there’s always a possibility of that.”

Ultimately, the Browns found themselves in a painfully familiar situation with a team that proved itself to be good enough to make the playoffs in 2023, but a team that doesn’t have a franchise quarterback. It’s up to Berry to come up with a plan to fix this in 2025, if he’s around long enough to see it through.