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Browns, Christian Kirksey agree to four-year contract extension

By Thomas Moore

Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bengals won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns and linebacker Christian Kirksey have agreed on a four-year contract extension, with a reported $20 million in guaranteed money.

The Cleveland Browns locked up another of their young foundational players on Tuesday by agreeing to a four-year contract extension with linebacker Christian Kirksey.

The team announced the move on its website.

While the Browns did not release the financial details of the extension, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport Tweeted out that the deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money:

If those figures are correct, then Kirksey will have the second-most guaranteed money among inside linebackers in the NFL, trailing just Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers, according to Spotrac.com.

Related: Browns to move Christian Kirksey to the outside

Kirksey released a statement through the team’s website about the new deal:

"“Hue Jackson has been telling me from day one that I have a chance to be a great player in this league and for them to offer me this contract speaks volumes. I am glad to be here and to be a Brown for a long time. This is my home. This is where I want to be. I love my teammates and we are ready to get this thing rolling. I am excited for the future.”"

The new deal for Kirksey continues an extremely positive offseason for the Browns, who previously resigned linebacker Jamie Collins and offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, and added offensive linemen JC Tretter and Kevin Zeitler in free agency.

Kirksey will be taking on a new role this fall as he will switch to outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams defense after playing one of the middle linebacker spots in a 3-4 defense the past three seasons.

Next: Isaiah Crowell feeling good about the Browns

A third-round selection out of Iowa in the 2014 NFL Draft, Kirksey has developed into one of Cleveland’s cornerstone players on defense. This past season was his first as a full-time starter and he responded by leading the team in tackles with 148, a number that put him at third in the entire NFL.

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