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The Cleveland Browns took the first step toward fixing the return game on Wednesday by agreeing to a deal with kick returner Jakeem Grant of the Chicago Bears.
The deal is for three years and is worth up to $13.8 million with incentives, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The #Browns are signing Pro Bowl return man and WR Jakeem Grant to a three-year deal worth up to $13.8 million, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2022
Grant’s deal was negotiated by agent @Murphy_McGuire of @OctagonFootball.
A sixth-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft, Grant earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after being traded to the Chicago Bears in October.
In 15 games between the Bears and the Dolphins, Grant returned 26 punts for 309 yards and a touchdown, while his average of 11.9 yards per return was third-best in the league. He added 23 kickoff returns for 539 yards, good for an average of 23.4 yards per return.
➖ Leads the NFC in punt return average (13.7 yds per return)
— Octagon Football (@OctagonFootball) December 13, 2021
➖ Only @NFL player w/ a punt return TD this season (97 yd)
➖ 4th in the NFC in kick return average (24.2 yds per return)
➖ 3 total TDs on the season
Jakeem Grant #ProBowlVote
RT to vote for @_TheDreamIsHere! pic.twitter.com/pOAKG06ECe
Grant has also been an Associated Press second-team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons.
For his NFL career, Grant has returned 199 punts for 1,228 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 110 kickoff returns for 2,699 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On offense, he has 100 career receptions for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 17 rushes for 76 yards and a score.
Grant’s signing, along with the rest of Cleveland’s moves, can become official when the new league year begins today at 4 p.m.
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