Browns Match Jaguars’ Offer Sheet For Alex Mack

Update:

BREAKING: Browns will match offer sheet for Pro Bowl Center Alex Mack. Follow http://t.co/TFhsZHhQHp for details.

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 11, 2014

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Browns have already matched the Jaguars’ offer sheet for C Alex Mack.

• Jay Glazer reports that the Browns deliberated over whether or not they should match the deal given that it includes close to $25 million in guarantees.

Cleveland had five days to make a decision, but it only took them a matter hours to match the offer sheet.

Mack will now play out at least the first two years of his five-year deal worth $42 million before deciding whether or not void the contract.

Mack, 28, has played every snap for the Browns since being drafted in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 4 center in the league this past season.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that transition-tagged C Alex Mack has signed his offer sheet with the Jaguars. 

• Ian Rapoport reported last night that Mack’s offer sheet is a five-year deal worth $42 million that includes $18 million over the first two years.
• The contract includes a player option following the 2015 season and prevents his next team from tagging him with the franchise or transition designations.
• Mike Garafolo reported that Mack’s 2016 salary of $8 million is fully guaranteed if he doesn’t void the contract after two years, which would bring his total guarantees to $26 million.

The overall consensus has been that the Browns will end up matching Jacksonville’s offer in the end. However, Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night that Cleveland is “really thinking over” the situation.