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The Cleveland Browns have made their first major move following a very eventful draft weekend. According to reports, the team has reached an agreement with star cornerback Joe Haden, in a deal that extends his contract through 2019 and may just make him one of the highest paid CBs in the league.
Michael David Smith, managing editor of Pro Football Talk, broke the story first:
Haden, who has been with the Browns since they chose him with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, has agreed to a new contract that will keep him in Cleveland through the 2019 season. A league source tells PFT that the deal includes a $14 million signing bonus, $22 million fully guaranteed at signing and another $23 million guaranteed for injury. The signing bonus, the full guarantee and the amount guaranteed for injury all surpass the deal that Richard Sherman just signed with Seattle.
The deal was just announced officially by the club, and it's reported to be worth a total of $68 million, with $45 million guaranteed, and averaging $13.6 million per year. At its max, the extension will result in $12 million a year and $22 million fully guaranteed in just new money up from the old contract, according to Jason La Canfora.
In terms of total value, this is currently the largest contract in the NFL for a cornerback. However, Haden will rank third by the average per year, just under Sherman's $14 million and Darrelle Revis' $16 million.
Cleveland Browns and Joe Haden have agreed to a 5 yr contract extension. pic.twitter.com/UssGdQ1AYc
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 13, 2014