Cleveland Browns are taking care of some business to end their week on Friday.
Ahead of free agency kicking off next week, the Browns opted to convert the fifth-year option of LT Jedrick Wills Jr, which saved them 10.44 million in cap space. The news was first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Salary cap-clearing as free agency approaches …
The #Cowboys converted guard Zack Martin’s salary, clearing $13M
The #Browns converted tackle Jedrick Willis’ fifth-year option, clearing $10.44M
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 8, 2024
With the move, the Browns are set on keeping Wills around for his fifth season. Cleveland won’t be trading Wills after converting $13 million of his contract into a signing bonus. The former first-round pick will have a base salary of $1.1 million in 2024.
Cleveland now has about $17 million in cap space and can make other moves, such as restructuring the contract of QB Deshaun Watson to create more room.
Wills will play out his fifth season with the Browns and be an unrestricted free agent next offseason. Depending on how he plays this season will dictate his future in Cleveland going forward.
The Browns have Dawand Jones who proved he is a starter in the NFL as a rookie in 2023, as well as RT Jack Conklin coming back from a season-ending injury. It’s not out of the realm that the Browns perhaps move Jones to left tackle, but we wouldn’t find that out until free agency likely.
Cleveland has been aggressive in free agency in recent years and it looks like they’re working toward doing that again.
