CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns are in talks with guard Joel Bitonio about a contract extension now that they’ve signed his counterpart Wyatt Teller to a blockbuster new deal on Tuesday, a league source confirmed for cleveland.com.
A deal could also be imminent, the source said.
USA Today’s Mike Jones first reported that talks are underway and that a deal could be reached by Wednesday.
A three-time Pro Bowler and the Browns’ longest-tenured player, Bitonio has been the anchor of the Browns’ line and a face of the franchise since Joe Thomas retired.
There was no way they were going to let Teller make almost $6 million more a year than their prized left guard.
Teller, 26, signed a four-year extension on Tuesday worth $14.2 million a year, making him the second-highest paid guard in the NFL behind Kansas City’s Joe Thuney, who averages $16 million a year. What’s more, their first-time All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin averages $14 million, so it makes sense to bring Bitonio up to market value.
Bitonio, a three-time second-team All-Pro, is 14th in the NFL with an average of $8.527 million a year. He’s under contract through next season at $9.5 million this year and next year.
According to Pro Football Focus, he’s the third-highest rated guard in the NFL behind Dallas’ Zach Martin and Teller.
In his eighth season, Bitonio played his 100th career game against the Chargers, and could be playing the best ball of his career in coach Kevin Stefanski’s wide-zone scheme.
“I feel really good,’’ Bitonio told the team website last month. “Any lineman you ask, there’s always something you want to clean up. We have a really good scheme right now, and I think I’m able to use my athletic ability to run outside zone but also pull, get in the open field on screens and things of that nature. We’re really taking advantage of our opportunities.
“It’s been good for me. I think there’s a couple of little things in pass protection that I want to keep cleaning up but we’re working at it. Coach (Bill) Callahan and Coach (Scott) Peters and the O-line and Coach Stefanski calling the plays has put us in really good position. I think it’s a combination of everything. It’s an imperfect balance of the longer you can play and learn and your body stays healthy. As long as you can stay in those golden years, I feel like I’m in a good spot right now and hopefully I can keep going.’’
On Tuesday, Teller expressed gratitude for the continuity on the line.
“It’s amazing to be around the same guys for a year or two,’’ he said. “It’s special. When you can lock down some guys for four or five years together, that is special. Each year, you are gaining so much continuity and so much experience together that each year it gets better and better and better. I am lucky to have a great center in (C) JC (Tretter) a great tackle in (T) Jack (Conklin), and right now, (T) Blake (Hance), who is playing out of his mind.
“I thought he was going to get some money with how well he’s been playing. He’s been blocking up everybody. Again, great teammates. (QB) Baker (Mayfield) was lights out. Nick was lights out. I have been blessed. (RB) Kareem (Hunt) should be coming back here soon. I know he is fighting hard to get back. We have great teammates and great players. I know that continuity is amazing. Again, it is a special thing. It is life-changing money. It is all of these amazing things, but the work has just begun.”
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