If the Browns want to retain three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, the new regime must reach into its deep pockets and offer him a substantial raise.
Mack voided the final three years of his contract with the Browns and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
One of his agents, Tim Younger, said there’s “absolutely” a chance Mack could still return to the Browns.
“For the first time in his career, Alex is a free agent,” he wrote in an email. “He has earned the right to choose his next spot — and returning to Cleveland is certainly very possible. He is connected here. That’s why it was important to him to visit last week, and he enjoyed his visit.”
Mack had $8 million in each of the next three years left on the deal. He had until 4 p.m. Friday to opt out, which he was expected to do.
Last month, former NFL agent Joel Corry told his Twitter followers not to be surprised if Mack tried to become the first center to be paid $10 million a year. Mack will likely command such a price tag and receive attention from several teams. Miami Dolphins three-time Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey has the league’s highest average annual salary at the position — $8.95 million per year.
The Browns have been working on re-signing Mack, who recently met with head of football operations Sashi Brown, coach Hue Jackson and offensive line coach Hal Hunter at team headquarters in Berea.
Last week at the NFL Scouting Combine, Brown said the team’s best chance to retain Mack would have been to reach a new deal with him before he opted out.
“My estimation would be if he’s going to be in Cleveland, we’ll get to a deal before his opt-out date,” Brown said.
The Browns can still re-sign Mack, but he’ll be able to leverage offers from other teams. Corry projects the franchise to have $48.85 million in salary-cap space with Mack opting out.
Mack officially joins right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, wide receiver Travis Benjamin and free safety Tashaun Gipson as key Browns players headed for unrestricted free agency next week. Their agents can begin contract negotiations with other teams beginning at 4 p.m. Monday, two days before deals can be executed.
Unlike those other players, Mack had the rare ability to opt out.
In 2014, the Browns matched a five-year, $42 million offer sheet Mack signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after former General Manager Ray Farmer used a transition tag on him. The deal gave Mack the power to void the contract after two seasons.
As the 2015 season wrapped up, Mack insisted he didn’t know whether he would opt out.
However, he made it known that a team’s ability to win would play a role in his decision.
“I will say that winning is really important to me,” Mack said Dec. 23.
The Browns went 3-13 last season. They’re 33-79 since drafting Mack in the first round (No. 21 overall) in 2009.
So Brown, Farmer’s successor, and Jackson, hired Jan. 13 to replace Mike Pettine, have attempted to sell their vision for a turnaround to Mack.
“We had good discussions, both Hue and I, separately with Alex, about how we go about winning in Cleveland and also what his role would be in that,” Brown said.
It would certainly be a significant role.
Mack, 30, is widely considered one of the best centers in the league. He started 85 consecutive games and didn’t miss a snap until suffering a fractured left fibula and ligament damage in October 2014. But Mack bounced back last season to earn his third Pro Bowl nod and the Ed Block Courage Award.
“Alex is a tremendous player,” Jackson said last week at the combine. “You guys all know how I feel about Alex Mack. But he’s another one of those players who has an opportunity to do what he feels is best for him and his family. Love to have him back, but at the same time, he has to make that choice and he has to want to be back.”
Bracing for Mack to opt out, Farmer drafted offensive lineman Cameron Erving 19th overall last year. Erving played left tackle and center at Florida State, but he struggled mightily while filling in at guard during his rookie season. There’s no evidence he’s ready to become a full-time starter in place of Mack.
Last month, nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said he hoped the Browns would retain Mack and Schwartz. If they don’t, they’ll lose 40 percent of their starting offensive line.
“I think we have the best right tackle and the best center in the NFL, and I’d certainly like to keep those guys,” Thomas said. “You’re not going to make your team better by getting a worse player at those positions.”
Mostert retained
The Browns extended an exclusive-rights tender to kickoff returner and running back Raheem Mostert, his agent, Brett Tessler, announced Wednesday on Twitter.
Mostert appeared in three games last season with the Browns, returning 12 kickoffs for 309 yards (25.8 average) with a long return of 53 yards. He also appeared in seven games with the Baltimore Ravens and one game with the Miami Dolphins last season.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.