Browns Agree To Three-Year Extension With New WR Jerry Jeudy
The Browns wasted no time locking up one of their biggest offseason acquisitions for the foreseeable future.
Just 10 days after agreeing to a trade with the Broncos to land wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland has agreed to terms on a three-year extension for their newest weapon, before he even steps on the field for the franchise. The deal is reportedly worth up to $58 million with $41 million guaranteed at signing. The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the new deal.
Jeudy was scheduled to enter the 2024 season playing on the fifth-year option year of his rookie deal since being draft No. 15 overall in 2020. During his first four years in the NFL, Jeudy has yet to live up to the first-round expectations he entered the league with. He has yet to produce a 1,000-yard season to this point, although he did come up just 28 yards short of that mark in 2022 which was his best season.
The ex-Bronoco caught 67 passes that year for 972 yards and six touchdowns, seemingly proving he was taking a step in the right direction. Those numbers regressed in 2023 though as he caught only 54 passes for 758 yards and two scores.
When Jeudy was asked about a potential extension with the team during his introductory press conference last week, he expressed his desire to be somewhere he felt wanted. Cleveland obliged, by making him part of their future plans through the 2027 season.
“I want to be somewhere that wants me to be there," Jeudy said. "I want to be home. I don’t want to be moving around too much and all that. So we’re going to see what happens.”
Home for Jeudy will be Cleveland for at least the next four years, as he currently represents the only wideout on the roster with more than two years of experience signed beyond this season. In a statement from the team, general manager Andrew Berry said they viewed Jeudy as part of their long-term plans when they acquired him last week.
"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,” said Berry. “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."
Elijah Moore, who the Browns acquired last year via a trade with the Jets, and Amari Cooper, who Jeudy has said he considers a mentor, are each entering the final years of their respective deals as well. It remains to be seen whether or not Berry has any plans to extend that duo of wideouts.
Cooper is set to cost the Browns $20 million in cap space next season and if he doesn't receive and extension could at the very least be in line for a restructure.
