Browns Place Transition Tag On C Alex Mack

Update:

BREAKING: The Browns have designated C Alex Mack as their transition player.

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) March 3, 2014

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Browns are placing their transition tag on free agent C Alex Mack.

• Ian Rapoport reported earlier in the day that the Browns met with Mack this past weekend to try to mend the fences from the old Browns regime.
• Rapoport previously reported that the Browns view re-signing Mack as “priority No. 1” for them this offseason.

The transition tag will give the Browns the ability to match any offer he receives on the open market within the first five days.

• Adam Schefter mentions that this move will save the Browns almost $1 million from as it will cost them close to $10.3 million versus $11 million under the franchise tag.

Cleveland has plenty of cap space to work with, so I’m sure they will be able to make him a very competitive offer before the start of free agency next week.

Mack has played every snap for the Browns since being drafted in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft.  He would undoubtedly be the top center available this offseason, and will likely command something in the vicinity of the league’s highest paid center Ryan Kalil— who signed a six-year, $49.1 million deal in 2011.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 4 center in the league this past season. We have Mack listed as the No. 1o player in our Top 50 Free Agents list.