The Browns are in danger of losing three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack once free agency kicks off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, so they’re exploring contingency plans in case they can’t retain him.
One option is Jacksonville Jaguars center Stefen Wisniewski, who is scheduled to hit the open market like Mack.
Agents of players with expiring contracts were permitted to begin contract negotiations with other teams beginning at noon Monday, and the Browns have expressed interest in Wisniewski, a source familiar with the situation told the Beacon Journal.
Wisniewski, 26, is the first player the Oakland Raiders drafted in 2011 when new Browns coach Hue Jackson served as their head coach. Without a first-round pick that year, they selected him in the second round (No. 48 overall) out of Penn State, prompting Jackson to declare, “We got the player that we all wished was sitting there. ... It’s like Christmas for me.”
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Wisniewski has started all 77 regular-season games in which he has appeared, including 15 at left guard as a rookie before switching to center. He spent four years with the Raiders and played through a torn labrum in 2014 that required shoulder surgery after the season. Unable to secure a long-term deal coming off the injury, he signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Jaguars and started all 16 games last season.
Wisniewski, whose father, Leo, played nose tackle for the Baltimore Colts and uncle Steve was an eight-time Pro Bowl guard with the Raiders, had a solid season for the Jaguars other than some botched shotgun snaps. He’ll garner interest from others in a thin market for centers.
ProFootballFocus.com ranked Wisniewski 19th among centers (eighth in pass protection and 22nd in run blocking). By comparison, PFF ranked Mack 13th (15th in pass protection and tied for 11th in run blocking).
Mack, 30, bounced back from a fractured left fibula and ligament damage suffered in 2014 to earn a Pro Bowl selection last season. After he voided the final three years of his contract last week, one of his agents, Tim Younger, said it’s “certainly very possible” Mack could return to the Browns, who have been trying to re-sign him.
However, Mack will be coveted on the open market. And the Browns have acknowledged his worth.
“You can put it up there with the quarterback when you have a guy like that who has played so well for so long,” Jackson said last week during the Cleveland Auto Show. “We understand the situation that he’s in, and he has a right to do what he’s doing right now.”
The Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, held the same role with the Browns two years ago, are among the interested teams, according to BleacherReport.com.
So the Browns realize they must have backup plans at center. They drafted Cameron Erving 19th overall last year, but he struggled mightily while filling in at guard.
Jackson said last month he would value free agents who have previous experience in his offense, and Wisniewski fits the description. Several others do as well, including Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Andre Smith and Bengals wide receivers Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu.
Roster moves
The Browns re-signed backup inside linebacker and special-teams ace Tank Carder in addition to securing backup receiver Terrelle Pryor and several other players, the team announced Monday.
Carder was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. Terms of his deal were not immediately disclosed.
“I want to thank the Cleveland Browns organization for allowing me to continue my dream, I wouldn’t want it any other way #dawgpound#browns,” Carder wrote on Twitter.
The Browns also extended qualifying offers to their four restricted free agents: Pryor, reserve offensive lineman Austin Pasztor, backup outside linebacker Scott Solomon and backup safety and special teamer Don Jones. They retained backup nose tackle Jamie Meder as an exclusive rights free agent along with kickoff returner Raheem Mostert.
If Pryor (third round), Solomon (seventh) or Jones (seventh) signs an offer sheet from another team, the Browns have the right of first refusal and would receive draft-pick compensation equal to the player’s original draft round if they leave. If Pasztor (who was undrafted) signs an offer sheet from another team, the Browns would have the right of first refusal.
All of them are expected to return. They would be scheduled to make $1.671 million next season. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets is April 22.
The Browns still have six impending unrestricted free agents scheduled to hit the open market. The four main players from that category are Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, wide receiver Travis Benjamin and former Pro Bowl free safety Tashaun Gipson. Part-time starting inside linebacker Craig Robertson and special-teams ace Johnson Bademosi are the others.
Extra points
• The Browns have expressed interest in Marvin Jones and Bengals cornerback Adam Jones, according to Cleveland.com.
• Miami Dolphins transition-tagged edge rusher Olivier Vernon is expected to receive interest from several teams, including the New York Giants, Raiders, Jaguars, Browns and Tennessee Titans, Yahoo Sports reported.
• Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins tweeted a recruiting pitch at Benjamin and his former Bengals teammates, Jones and Sanu: “Remember, you guys look good in orange.”
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.