Jack Conklin, Cleveland Browns agree to four-year, $60 million extension
The Browns and right tackle Jack Conklin have agreed to a four-year, $60-million contract extension, Conklin's agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed to the Beacon Journal.
Rosenhaus negotiated the extension along with Jason Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the deal.
Conklin was in the final year of a three-year contract he signed in March 2020. He's battled injuries, specifically a torn patellar tendon that cost him the end of the 2021 season and the first two games of this season, but has started the last 12 games.
After being named the Browns' Ed Block Courage Award winner on Dec. 13, Conklin was asked about his future in Cleveland after this season. Although he wasn't willing to dive into specifics about the negotiations, he left no doubt about his feelings toward the area.
"Cleveland will be my home forever," Conklin said then. "So obviously I would like to be here for the rest of my career. We'll see what happens and how that works out. This is the place I definitely wanna be, but how things work out, it will work or it won't work. So we'll see what happens when it comes to that, but right now I'm worried about these next four games and making the most of that and doing what I can to be a part of a win for this week."
Conklin has played every game since returning from rehabbing the injury in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His performance so far this season earned him a Pro Bowl alternate selection, which was announced on Wednesday.
The two-time All-Pro agreed to a restructuring in February that lowered his fully guaranteed rate to $8 million, with as much as another $4 million through playing-time incentives this season ranging from 55% to 75% of the offensive snaps. Previously, Conklin was scheduled to make a non-guaranteed $12 million base salary this season, but the Browns saved $4 million in cap space.
"It was good for the team and me," Conklin said during training camp. "That point in the process, they didn't know how fast I was going to come back or when I'd be able to and they wanted to have flexibility to bring somebody in if they needed to bridge the gap and, luckily, where we're at now it's looking good."
The extension provides more stability along the Browns offensive line. Although guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are both under contract beyond this season, the front office had decisions about both tackles, Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr.
The decision regarding Wills centers on whether or not to pick up his fifth-year option. He's still under his original four-year rookie deal that runs through next season, but the decision on picking up that option must be made this offseason.
With Conklin signed through 2026, that provides the Browns with three proven All-Pro, or near-All-Pro, linemen. Now, all three — Bitonio, Conklin and Teller — are locked up through at least the 2025 season.
Conklin's comeback from the knee injury, which he sustained on Nov. 28, 2021, drew plentiful praise from his coaches and teammates throughout the process. Coach Kevin Stefanski said multiple times the veteran offensive lineman was a mainstay in the facility throughout the offseason as he recovered.
“He lived here in this building," Stefanski said of Conklin on Dec. 13. "It is the offseason, it is a weekend and it is odd hours he is in here working trying to get better. I just think it speaks to his personality and it speaks to his determination to help this football team and to play through injury. He provides great leadership for this football team.”
Conklin's play this season has re-affirmed his status as one of the top right tackles in the game when he's healthy. His first season in Cleveland, in 2020, he earned All-Pro status while helping the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff win since Jan. 1, 1995.
The former No. 8 overall pick in 2016 for the Tennessee Titans out of Michigan State was also an All-Pro selection in his rookie season.
Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.
On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jack Conklin, Cleveland Browns agree to four-year, $60 million deal
