The Cleveland Browns and GM Andrew Berry have gotten to work on one of the major items on their pre-free agency list this weekend.
With the NFL Combine coming up next week, which unofficially starts free-agent discussions despite rules against such, Cleveland has a few important roster decisions. Jarvis Landry made news with his social media posts related to his contract. While he may be trying to avoid Sheldon Richardson’s fate from last year, the Browns have some options with him.
Other players like J.C. Tretter, Case Keenum and even Austin Hooper have been mentioned as ways for Cleveland to free up some cap space.
One name that didn’t get a lot of discussion but was a lingering decision was that of right tackle Jack Conklin. Conklin torn his patellar tendon late in the team’s season and was going into the last year of his contract with the team. With James Hudson III playing well late in the season, there was a chance Conklin could be traded or let go.
Instead, Saturday Conklin agreed to a restructured deal:
The Browns and RT Jack Conklin have agreed to a reworked final year of his deal, per source.
Conklin was due a $12M non-guaranteed salary, but will now earn an $8M fully guaranteed salary, with $4M in play-time incentives starting at 55% and up to 75%.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 26, 2022
According to Yates, the deal will save the Browns $4 million in cap space and Conklin gets certainty with his deal and a chance to earn back all of that money if he’s healthy.
With Conklin’s new deal done, Berry and company turn their eyes toward the rest of the roster, free agency and the NFL draft.