Jack Conklin’s current contract with the Cleveland Browns may be difficult to justify due to concerns about his health. As he deals with injury-related issues, the Browns might face a challenging decision regarding Conklin’s contract.

Jack Conklin, who earned All-Pro honors in 2020 during his debut season with the Cleveland Browns after transferring from the Tennessee Titans, has faced considerable injury setbacks. In 2021, he was limited to just seven games due to significant elbow and knee injuries.

Although he made a return the following year, participating in 14 out of 17 games, Conklin experienced MCL and ACL tears in the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals in September, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.

In December 2022, Jack Conklin inked a four-year, $60 million extension with the Cleveland Browns, securing his tenure until 2026. The Browns have the option to release Conklin after June 1, resulting in a $13 million dead money charge for 2024 but no savings against the salary cap.

However, this move would yield savings of $15 million in both 2025 and 2026. Alternatively, trading Conklin post-June 1 involves shifting $5.5 million of dead money to cap savings and incurring a $7.5 million dead money cost, while maintaining the same savings and dead money scenario over the subsequent four years compared to a summer cut.

A potential hurdle in trading Jack Conklin lies in the substantial contract that any interested team would have to absorb, especially considering Conklin’s recent injury challenges, which have limited his on-field presence in the past three seasons.

As Conklin enters his ninth NFL season in 2024 at the age of 30, the uncertainties surrounding his durability may impact trade interest. Additionally, the Browns have Dawand Jones, a rookie fourth-round pick, who performed admirably in 11 appearances during Conklin’s absence before a season-ending MCL surgery, potentially making Conklin more dispensable.