Browns Sign ILB Christian Kirksey To Four-Year, $38M Extension

May 30, 2017

Update:

The Browns have already announced their new deal with ILB Christian Kirksey.

“Christian Kirksey brings a lot to this football team,” said Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown. “He’s another example of a young talented football player that we want to be part of our organization for the long-term. Chris reflects the hard work and commitment we want in our locker room. He has done everything asked of him since he was drafted and has developed into an impact starter. We are very pleased to get a new deal with him in place. We look forward to watching him continue to emerge as a leader of our team and establish a culture of winning here in Cleveland.”

“First and foremost I want to thank the Haslams for this opportunity and the organization for believing in me,” Kirksey said. “Hue Jackson has been telling me from day one that I have a chance to be a great player in this league and for them to offer me this contract speaks volumes. I am glad to be here and to be a Brown for a long time. This is my home. This is where I want to be. I love my teammates and we are ready to get this thing rolling. I am excited for the future.”

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Browns are signing ILB Christian Kirksey to a four-year contract extension worth $38 million and includes $20 million guaranteed.

Rapoport notes that Kirksey is now the fifth highest paid player at his position.

Over the holiday weekend, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that he had heard from sources the Browns and Kirksey were making progress on a contract extension and it appears as though they were able to work out the final details of a new deal.

Kirksey, 24, is a former third-round pick of the Browns back in 2014. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $3.04 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $765,000 for the 2017 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next year.

In 2016, Kirksey appeared in all 16 games for the Browns and recorded 148 tackles, 2.5 sacks, no interceptions or forced fumbles and three pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 22 linebacker out of 87 qualifying players.