The Cleveland Browns are dealing with a complicated financial situation heading into 2025, with a large portion of it stemming from Deshaun Watson’s $72.9 million cap hit. However, other factors also contribute to the team’s financial instability.
One of the significant issues is offensive tackle Jack Conklin’s costly contract. Conklin is set to earn a $14 million base salary next season, along with a $19.5 million cap hit. Given his ongoing injury problems since joining the Browns in 2020, this isn’t an ideal situation for the team.
As a result, Zac Jackson of The Athletic anticipates that Cleveland will either restructure Conklin’s deal or release him with a post-June 1 designation, which would free up around $16 million in cap space.
When Conklin first joined the Browns in 2020, he was expected to be a cornerstone of the offensive line, even earning a First-Team All-Pro selection in his first season. However, the 30-year-old has battled injuries, playing in only 28 games over the past four years.
Conklin tore his ACL in Week 1 of last year and missed the first five games of the 2024 season as a result.
While Conklin is still productive when healthy, the Browns may now prioritize consistency and reliability over his potential moving forward.
