As the Cleveland Browns contemplate who their next franchise quarterback will be, they're freeing up some money in the process.
On Thursday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that right tackle Jack Conklin has allowed his contract to be restructured.
The changes will make the two-time All-Pro a free agent next offseason instead of in 2027 and will adjust his $14 million salary in 2025 to $10 million.
He will have an opportunity to make an additional $2 million in incentives.
Conklin missed 10 games in 2021 with knee and elbow injuries and appeared in just one game in 2023 after suffering a torn ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus.
In his return last season, the 30-year-old appeared in 12 games.
The Browns are hoping to bolster their offensive line in the hopes of a new quarterback in 2025 after Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles for the second time in three months back in January.
Watson is expected to miss the entire 2025 season and might have played his last game as a Brown. Cleveland met with free agent Russell Wilson on Thursday but he left the facility without a contract on his way to meet with the Giants.
The Browns have the No. 2 pick in next month's NFL Draft and they could have their choice of a young quarterback in either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward depending on what Tennessee does at No. 1.
Or they could flip the script and choose one of the better defensive players available.
As veteran quarterbacks are falling off the free agent board, The Browns' options are becoming more and more limited. Justin Fields, Marcus Mariota, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Mac Jones and others have already signed elsewhere.
Cleveland could be forced to go with a rookie quarterback after all is said and done. And if they do, they better have a top-notch offensive line in front of him.
