The Cleveland Browns have tried to make it clear in the press all off-season that they will match any offer sheet given to their restricted free-agent center Alex Mack. According to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to put that to the test as they will sign Mack to an offer sheet tomorrow.
Here is #Jaguars offer sheet Alex Mack will be signing tomorrow: 5 years, $42M. It’s $18M over 2 with player option after ’15. Can’t tag him
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 10, 2014
To break that down, even if Cleveland does match, its possible that Mack can collect $18 million over the next two years, and then opt for free agency, with no opportunity for Cleveland to place the franchise tag on him. In other words, Cleveland could pay Mack above market value for his position for two years, and still see the center leave without compensation.
If Mack does not opt out of the contract he will get a guaranteed $8 million in 2016. The deal will make Mack the highest paid center in the NFL.
Alex Mack was given a transition tag by the Browns earlier in the off-season. The team now has five days to match the offer or let him go to Jacksonville without any compensation.
The 28-year-old Mack is entering his sixth year in the NFL. He has been remarkably durable and has not missed a game since being drafted out of California by the Browns with a first round pick, 21st overall, in the 2009 NFL Draft.
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