According to NFL Network analyst Mike Garafolo, center JC Tretter will sign with the Cleveland Browns later today. Ian Rapoport is reporting that the deal is worth about $8.5 million. The Green Bay Packers selected Tretter in the fourth round (No. 122 overall) in the 2013 draft. Since then, Tretter, drafted out of Cornell, has proven to be injury prone.
JC Tretter will officially be a Cleveland Brown in about five hours. That deal is getting done. Expected to be their new center.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 9, 2017
Report: JC Tretter To Sign With Cleveland Browns
Tretter spent the major part of his rookie season with Green Bay on the bench due to injuries. He sustained an ankle injury on the very first day of workouts in May of 2013. Tretter was not re-activated until early December that same year, but was inactive for the final three regular season games and remaining postseason games. The following season went much the same way. Tretter was placed on injury reserve with a knee injury in the first week of September. He was replaced by Corey Linsley, and did not return until early November. He was, however, impressive in the final eight regular season games and two playoff games that year.
2015 can be considered Tretter’s breakout year. Linsley, who had emerged as one of the Packers strongest players, was injured, and, ironically, it was Tretter who stepped up to replace him. He also played left tackle in a game in the postseason that year, replacing an injured David Bakhtiari. Tretter returned to do an outstanding job playing center for Green Bay in the 2016 season. Unfortunately injury struck again in Week 7, and Tretter’s season ended with surgery on an injured knee in January of 2017.
The injuries which have dogged Tretter are indeed very unfortunate. Considered by many to be a game changer while at Cornell, Tretter could at least provide significant depth to any offensive line. He is considered a versatile player. While with Cornell, he played tight end and offensive tackle. As a Packer, he’s played center, left guard and both tackle spots. When he did play for Green Bay, he provided outstanding protection for Aaron Rodgers, and while at Cornell, he was credited with improving the team’s pass protection. As long as he can stay healthy, it is likely that Tretter will prove to be a valuable player and earn his new contract.
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