Alex Mack continues to be the center of offseason attention.
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The Cleveland Browns offensive lineman, plastered with the transition tag, met with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Friday.
Following that news, hypothetical speculation mounted about what it would take for the Jags to snag the center from Cleveland.
The Florida Times-Union's Ryan O'Halloran reported, according to an unnamed source, that a contract including $22 million over the first three seasons could sew up a deal for Jacksonville.
"The only way the Jaguars can truly pull this off is to load it up with so much money now -- roster bonus and workout bonus -- something Cleveland doesn't want to match," the source told O'Halloran. "That's the trick for (general manager David Caldwell). He'll have to go overboard. It would simply be paying him more money than Cleveland thinks he's worth."
However, it sounds like that $22 million number wouldn't get it done after all.
ProFootballTalk reported Sunday that the Browns would match $22 million guaranteed over three seasons "in a second."
It makes sense, as PFT points out, because the Browns are on the hook for $10 million this season if Mack just signs the tag. So adding $12 million on top for two additional years of a Pro Bowl center in his prime would be an easy match -- this scenario doesn't take into consideration other non-guaranteed money Mack would be set to earn.
The point of this theoretical exercise is this: It will be nearly impossible for the Jaguars, or any other team, to construct a contract the Browns wouldn't match. The only way to do that is to give him an out-of-this-world deal. No right-minded general manager (which we believe Caldwell certainly is) should overpay a center, even one as good as Mack.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast", the guys welcome Browns star Joe Haden to the studio and talk about the uncertain future of Chris Johnson.