Analyzing the Contract Extension of Jerry Jeudy with the Cleveland Browns
The initial report regarding Jerry Jeudy’s new contract contained questionable information. Primarily, the use of ‘up to’ suggests an inflated representation as these figures often incorporate unlikely incentives, skewing the actual value of the contract.
Additionally, the reported amount of $41 million is misleading, as it includes guarantees from his previous fifth-year option, inaccurately boosting the extension’s value. Consequently, it’s prudent to disregard such initial reports and await verified information.
Typically, it takes several days for accurate details to surface on platforms like “Over The Cap” for comprehensive reporting. I tend to overlook initial reports, particularly those with ‘up to’ figures, as they are often inflated by agents to attract future clients, relying on improbable incentives.
While these reports offer a general idea of the deal, I refrain from analyzing the numbers until the official breakdown is available, which may take a few days.
Regarding the 2024 free agency series, here are the articles along with their corresponding 2024 salary cap impacts. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of this deal.
THE BREAKDOWN
The comprehensive details emerged via a tweet from Albert Breer.
According to his statements, these would likely be the terms of the deal:
When it’s finally revealed, I anticipate it will resemble something along these lines:
In summary,
It’s not surprising to see a jump in salary from $12,987,000 in 2024 to $18,997,000, as it’s common practice to provide a portion of the extension upfront rather than waiting for the new year. This upfront payment often serves as an incentive for the player to agree to the deal promptly.
Even if the deal doesn’t include option bonuses, the Cleveland Browns retain the flexibility to restructure annually, as this language is typically incorporated into all their contracts.
While it’s customary to include per-game roster bonuses, typically to mitigate against injury risks, it’s notable that they’ve opted not to include them in this deal. Surprisingly, there’s also no roster bonus in 2027, leaving the possibility for the Browns to release the player just before the start of the season.
Once the full details are available on Over The Cap, it’s likely I’ll provide a follow-up article incorporating these additional insights.
Regarding Exiting the Deal:
With $6 million guaranteed in 2026, if the Browns were to release him after the 2025 season, he’d be free to sign with another team. Any earnings up to $6 million would first go towards repaying the Browns’ guarantees due to offset language. Considering this, it’s unlikely he wouldn’t receive this amount, and if another team takes on the tab, they’d be responsible for $4,785,000, the minimum.
If the Browns decide to terminate the deal after 2025, it would have cost them $22,010,000 for the one-year extension, plus up to $6 million more depending on who covers the 2026 guarantees. This scenario seems improbable. Instead, it’s more likely to be a two-year deal valued at $35,497,000, with a team option for the final year at $17 million.
Salary Cap Update:
This brings the Cleveland Browns’ current cap space to $4,898,435. The difference from Over The Cap’s figures, which do not include void years for Winston, may be attributed to the deal’s pending official announcement. My predictions are based on past practices, and I often rely on Over The Cap for accurate salary cap information.
