One more defensive lineman remains to be examined as we dissect the contracts of the Cleveland Browns free agent signings: veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, who essentially takes Jordan Elliott’s spot.
Jefferson signed a $4 million, one-year contract with the Browns. However, his 2024 cap hit will only be $1.98 million.
In addition to his $1.21 million base pay, he also received a $2.45 million signing bonus. Since Andrew Berry specified four vacant years in the agreement, the signing bonus is prorated over five years.
Consequently, just $490,000 is deducted from the cap for this season.
An additional $20,000 per game ($340,000 for the season) signing bonus is part of Jefferson’s contract. Due to his limited playing time of 14 games in the previous season, only $280,000 is considered “likely to be earned” against the cap.
The organization will bear a $1.96 million dead cap hit for Jefferson when his deal expires in 2025.