Browns RT Jack Conklin agrees to restructured contract featuring playing-time incentives, per report

Conklin is coming off a major injury that ended his season in November
Jared Dubin

By Jared Dubin
56 mins ago
1 min read
JackConklin.jpg
© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Right tackle Jack Conklin will play out the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, but he'll do so under different terms than those in the deal he originally signed.

According to a report from ESPN's Field Yates, Conklin reworked his deal to include playing-time incentives in exchange for guaranteeing a portion of his base salary that was previously entirely un-guaranteed. Conklin had been set to draw a base salary of $12 million, fully non-guaranteed, but will instead get a fully guaranteed $8 million salary and the chance to earn up to $4 million by playing more than 75% of the team's offensive snaps. (The incentives begin at 55% of snaps.)

headshot-image
team logo
Jack Conklin
CLE • OT • 78
View Profile
Conklin tore his right patellar tendon in November and played in only seven games last season. The reworked contract gives the Browns an additional $4 million in salary-cap space this offseason while also ensuring that Conklin remains in Cleveland and receives at least $8 million for the 2022 campaign.


The strength of the Browns offense is the line, and the acquisition of Conklin played a big role in their playoff run during the 2020 season. Injuries and poor quarterback play ultimately doomed the team's run for the postseason in 2021, but ensuring Conklin is back in the fold will be a big lift next year -- if he can stay healthy.

Does anyone believe Conklins' injuries won't prevent him from being a viable help to the Browns offensive line during the 2022 season. See the similar case of Chris Hubbards' 2021 contributions, did they not have similar injuries one year apart, right near the final game of the season?

This just made Conklins' contract more tradable. More likely to be traded, less likely to be waived, the team gains trade value, Conklin gains a percentage guaranteed. All just speculation, it's happened before.

Outstanding.
Now, I just hope he can get on the field during training camp.

Agreed!

No - that doesn't make any sense. No one is trading more than a 4th round pick for Conklin, and that is being generous, especially coming off an injury, and only being signed for this year.

Can you imagine telling Haslam you just spent $8M of his money for a 5th round pick? And before anyone says anything, the Brock Osweiler trade was totally different.

Conklin will be on the Browns to start the season.

I'd think that everyone whos a Browns fan would be very happy about this... Good for US.

I like this. Conklin is a viable RT when healthy. Seems like a fair deal for both