Browns Mack agrees to 5 year, $42 million offer sheet with Jaguars

Sep 22, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Alex Mack (55) blocks against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Browns win 31-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Browns center Alex Mack will sign an offer sheet with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.  The total value of the proposed deal is $42 million, but the only part that really matters right now is the $18 million over 2 years with a player option.  That option would allow Mack to opt out of the deal after 2 years and prevent the team he is signed with from tagging him.

The assumption is the Browns will waste no time at all matching the offer, keeping Mack in Cleveland for 2 more years at least.  While many have criticized the Browns for the use of the transition tag as opposed the franchise tag, the Browns will be able to keep Mack in Cleveland for 2 years and $18 million as opposed to 1 year for a little over $11 million.

When the offer sheet is signed, the Browns will have five days to match and it is not expected to take long for them to come to that conclusion.  Mack will be an extremely high paid center but the Browns retain the best pivot in the league and have ample time to find and develop a replacement or if the team is winning at that point, Mack may be happy and the sides can renegotiate or simply stay with that contract.