After one contract restructuring and then a contract extension, new Browns WR Jerry Jeudy will enjoy a financial windfall in 2024. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns news nuggets …
It should come as no surprise that the Browns extended the contract of newly-acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.
The new deal extends Jeudy’s contract three years through 2027. The reported contract figures are up to $58 million total, with $41 million guaranteed at signing.
Jeudy arrived in the trade with Denver in the final year of his rookie contract for a fully guaranteed $12.987 million. There is no way GM Andrew Berry was going to trade fifth- and sixth-round picks to “rent” a receiver with that cap number.
The tip-off was when Berry did a quick redo of the contract he inherited.
Berry initially converted Jeudy’s inherited 2024 salary into a $1.125 million base salary + $11.8 million in cash bonus and added four void years to spread that figure over five years (2024 + the four void years).
The details of Jeudy’s extension are not known yet. But he’ll get an additional signing bonus on top of the conversion bonus. Which makes 2024 a significant financial windfall for a player who hasn’t caught a pass for the Browns.
The intention always was to secure Jeudy for the long term. Jeudy turns 25 years old next month and has four NFL seasons already in the bank.
In Denver, Jeudy suffered through three head coaches, one interim coach, three offensive coordinators and four starting quarterbacks. Consequently, Jeudy never fulfilled his No. 15 overall draft status. In 57 (of a possible 67) games, Jeudy averaged 53 receptions a season for 763 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Berry obviously thinks Jeudy hasn’t touched his potential as an NFL receiver.
“When we acquired Jerry via trade this spring, it was with the vision that he would become a core member of our offense in 2024 and beyond,” Berry said in the team’s statement confirming the contract extension. “He is a scheme-versatile receiver with high-level ability to separate against man coverage and a diverse number of ways to produce on the perimeter or in the slot.
“We felt that the ability to add a passionate and competitive player with his combination of strengths would be an important component of our offense now and into the future. At 24 years old and just entering his prime, we are pleased to have Jerry as a member of the Browns for the next several seasons and believe the best is yet to come.”
Jeudy joins Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and David Njoku as the top receiving threats as the Browns’ offense shifts to a three-receiver, one-tight end alignment to accommodate Deshaun Watson’s preference to operate predominantly out of the shotgun formation.
Cooper, Moore and Jeudy all came to the Browns via trades to correct oversights Berry made in the draft at the receiver position.
Cooper and Moore are in the final years of their contracts. I’d expect Cooper (who turns 30 in June) to soon receive a short-term extension, as he looms more valuable now as a mentor to Jeudy, who has followed Cooper for years. Moore’s future with the Browns, I believe, hinges on early improvement from a so-so 2023.
Overall, the trade for Jeudy – and his contract extension – still do not lessen the need for Berry to finally score a bulls-eye in the receiver-rich draft next month.
Watson’s next steps
Multiple reports surfaced on Tuesday that Watson may begin throwing this week, with Njoku rushing to Los Angeles to receive Watson’s soft tosses and Watson personal QB coach and podcast partner Quincy Avery on hand to supervise.
Watson has been rehabbing in LA off-and-on since having surgery there on November 21 to repair a dislocated fracture of the glenoid bone in his right shoulder. It is an uncommon injury; no known NFL quarterback has had it.
The Browns termed the surgery successful and have repeatedly said they anticipate no problems in Watson being good to go for the start of training camp.
Whether Watson will be green-lighted to participate in OTAs remains to be seen.
The Browns open their offseason program on April 15. Phase 1 of the program consists of two weeks of conditioning. Phase 2 is when players take the field for the first time solely for position drills. Phase 3 is when offensive players practice against defensive players for the first time and that lasts for four weeks, including OTAs and minicamp.
Brownie bits
Quarterback Jameis Winston has not signed his contract with the Browns (1 year, $4 million guaranteed) because he has been out of the country, according to a source. The Browns won’t acknowledge the deal until Winston signs the contract and it is reported to the NFL …
The Browns confirmed the signings of cornerback/special teamer Tony Brown, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson and receiver/returner James Proche.