More information is generally beneficial to the NFL decision-making process, but the Cleveland Browns will be operating without sufficient knowledge when trying to decide the future of left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
The offensive lineman was placed on injured reserve on November 7 after he suffered a knee injury, but it wasn’t supposed to be a season-ender.
On Dec. 12, the Browns announced that Wills underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery and would be sidelined for the rest of the season, though he’s expected to make a full recovery for the 2024 campaign.
Now, in addition to suffering from a rash of injuries along the offensive line, they’re backed into a corner regarding his future. Do they give him a speculative extension or let him play out his fifth-year option in 2024, potentially running the risk of losing him on the open market afterward?
He signed a four-year, $19.7 million rookie deal that included an $11.9 million signing bonus and $19.7 million guaranteed, per Spotrac, and it gave him a $1 million base salary and a $4.4 million cap hit for the current season.
In May, Cleveland exercised its fifth-year option on the lineman’s contract, which means he’ll make $14.2 million in base salary and carry a $14.6 million cap hit to protect the blind side of whoever lines up at quarterback
He signed a four-year, $19.7 million rookie deal that included an $11.9 million signing bonus and $19.7 million guaranteed, per Spotrac, and it gave him a $1 million base salary and a $4.4 million cap hit for the current season.
In May, Cleveland exercised its fifth-year option on the lineman’s contract, which means he’ll make $14.2 million in base salary and carry a $14.6 million cap hit to protect the blind side of whoever lines up at quarterback.
