Decisions, decisions, what is next for the Cleveland Browns at tackle?
By Greg Newland
Option 4 – Jack Conklin
The 25-year-old Michigan State alum Jack Conklin is likely the “best” option in Browns fans’ eyes, as he is young and still proven. What you need to remember is there are serious injury concerns with Conklin and the Titans chose to let him out of a fifth-year option that would have kept his salary just over $5 million, according to Over The Cap. Are Browns fans missing something, as many believe Conklin will be after Trent Brown and Lane Johnson money in the $16-18 million per year range?
After starting every game in his first two years, the first-round pick tore his ACL in a playoff loss to the Patriots in January 2018. After that injury, Conklin would miss the first four games of the 2018 season recovering and missed three more games throughout the season with other various injuries. In 2019, Conklin did start all 16 games.
I’m not saying Conklin would be a horrible signing, just not the slam dunk some are thinking. Other options may include signing an older veteran, but likely on a one-year deal. Conklin COULD turn into a Hubbard, but with even a bigger contract.
Option 3 – Jason Peters
The big-name out there right now that fits older veteran, one-year deal category is Jason Peters. Peters is an experienced veteran option who could be a short-term fix, assuming he can make it through the season. The 38-year-old Peters has been voted first- or second-team by the Associated Press six different times.
The two downfalls with Peters are his age and his health. Not many are able to play at a high level at 38-years-old, and Peters has only played in 16 games twice in the last five years. In fact, he has only started 16 games five times since 2004. Peters made $6 million in 2019, so the thought could be you get a cheaper experienced veteran for one year to train a draft pick.