Cleveland Browns

Josh Allen is the happiest man in the NFL after reportedly agreeing to a six-year, $258 million contract extension with the Buffalo Bills.

Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield likely aren't far behind on the happiness spectrum.

Allen's deal is the first to get completed among the trio of 2018 first-round quarterbacks and will likely set the tone for negotiations for Jackson and Mayfield in the coming weeks.

Of the two quarterbacks, Jackson's deal feels more likely to get done ahead of the regular season. The 2019 NFL MVP now has a base set for his demands; the Ravens have little recourse but to give Jackson a contract that exceeds Allen's on an annual value.

Jackson has emerged as perhaps the most dynamic dual-threat quarterback the sport has ever seen since taking over as Ravens starter midway through the 2018 season. Baltimore is 30-7 in regular-season games started by Jackson, and while he's not a Patrick Mahomes-level passer, he's shown massive improvements since his Heisman-winning tenure at Louisville. Even Jackson's biggest fans never expected him to complete 64 percent of his passes at the NFL level. 

By contrast, Allen has exactly one good season of football under his belt. It was a spectacular season, but there were concerns as to whether he was a franchise quarterback heading into 2020. In his first 27 starts, Allen threw for 5,163 yards and 30 touchdowns against 21 interceptions while completing 56.3 percent of his passes. He threw for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns against 10 picks alone last season.

The Bills were satisfied enough with his brilliant campaign to anchor their franchise to his continued development.

Lamar Jackson Contract Projection

4 years, $180 million ($135 million guaranteed) 

The Ravens should have no immediate concerns about Jackson. He's proved himself for three straight seasons—even if the 1-3 playoff record hasn't quite lived up to the regular-season brilliance.

Where Baltimore and Jackson may have an issue is the number of years on his new contract. There's no question Jackson's skill set is unique; at least half of his value as a quarterback is due to his transcendent scrambling ability.  He's remained remarkably healthy during his NFL career, but Jackson's playing style does leave him at a higher risk of injury.

A six-year extension is probably out of the question for that reason; the Ravens should look at the four-year, $160 million deal given to Dak Prescott as a sort of low-end beginning point for talks.

Baker Mayfield Contract Projection

5 years, $185 million ($120 million guaranteed)  

(*if Mayfield signs before Week 1)

Mayfield may be better served waiting out the 2021 regular season and betting on himself. Just as the Ravens have no reasonable argument to pay Jackson less than Allen, Mayfield has no reasonable position that states he should be paid as much or more than Allen.

Mayfield has posted a 23-22 record as a starter while never throwing for more than 3,827 yards in a season. His 43 interceptions are 12 more than the formerly mistake-prone Allen and more than double Jackson's career total (18). While it's true Mayfield has more attempts than Jackson, his interception rate (2.9)  is also a full percentage point higher than his  AFC  North rival's (1.9).

Mayfield is clearly the third-place finisher in this race, a solid-but-unspectacular quarterback who seems best served as a game manager in the Browns' run-heavy offense. There may be no better-protected quarterback in football when you factor in Cleveland's excellent offensive line and running game.

Side-by-side, it's hard to find any reason the Browns should even match the $160 million over four years given to Prescott. Based on talent and production, Mayfield should slot in around that $30-35 million per season range.

Mayfield almost certainly wants more than that, and Allen's deal may set the watermark for his desires. Unless the Browns overpay, the two sides may want to allow 2021 to play out and get another season's worth of data to see where Mayfield stands among his contemporaries. 

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones is a star-in-the-making. He just needed a little more time than other recent draft picks to show what he's capable of after a disappointing collegiate career. His performance during training camp has been eye-opening for an already loaded roster that features Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. 

According to The Athletic's Zac Jackson, Peoples-Jones is "lighting up" training camp. 

Talent always makes itself known if it's properly nurtured. Cleveland took a chance on Peoples-Jones with the 187th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. In the deepest wide receiver class ever, 25 heard their names called before the Browns finally pulled the trigger.

Peoples-Jones was a 5-star flop at Michigan. He never managed more than 47 receptions or 612 yards during any of his collegiate campaigns. His ability was obvious, but Michigan struggled to utilize him properly. 

At the time, Peoples-Jones was a potential throwaway pick in a loaded wide receiver class. Cleveland's front office knew it invested in a lottery ticket, but his upside was well worth the risk. 

"He was an exceptionally athletic, very talented individual," Browns area scout Colton Chapple told reporters shortly after Peoples-Jones' selection.  "... This is a guy we really like in terms of his overall size, speed and athleticism to bring to our unit and contribute in whatever manner our coaches deem fit." 

Chapple added: "What we saw on tape when he did have his opportunities, he made the most of them. He became a very dynamic player once the offense was able to get him the ball quickly."  

Fast forward six months. 

Beckham went down with a season-ending knee injury in a Week 7 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns and their division rival went back and forth during the second half before quarterback Baker Mayfield found Peoples-Jones on a back-shoulder throw for a game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left. At that moment, the Browns saw the potential of what their wide receiver corps could eventually become. 

Peoples-Jones finished tied for fifth on the team with 304 receiving yards. The sophomore receiver could easily emerge as the Browns' third option behind Landry and Beckham. The flashes were promising. Peoples-Jones finished fourth in the rookie class with an average of 1.83 yards per route run, per Pro Football Focus. At one point during the Browns' stretch run (Weeks 13-15), the first-year pass-catcher posted the second-most yardage on throws 20-plus yards downfield. 

"Most rookies, there is a learning curve," head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters. "[Jedrick Wills Jr.] obviously, was in there from play No. 1 and started the whole season, but I would say that is pretty rare across the league. Once you get out of that first-round top-15 guys, you typically have guys who you are working into the lineup and their roles grow throughout the season.

"I think Donovan is a great example of that. Again, a really smart player, a conscientious kid who we could put in there and trust him to do the job. He certainly earned our trust over the course of time."

The next step is earning the trust of his quarterback, and he's certainly seemed to do so during his second training camp. 

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Peoples-Jones has slimmed down and spent all offseason working with Mayfield. As a result, his physical gifts are consistently translating to the field. 

Before understanding what the wide receiver brings to the table from an on-field perspective, his natural ability must be addressed. Peoples-Jones is a 6'2", 212-pound target with 33½" arms. His 44½" vertical is the second-best NFL combine effort since the league began revealing results in 2006. He finished first among his wide receiver classmates with an 11'7" broad jump, too. He ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. Overall, the prospect posted a SPARQ (speed, power, athleticism, reaction and quickness) score in the 99th percentile of NFL wide receivers, per NBC Sports' Thor Nystrom. 

Peoples-Jones is the caliber of athlete every team wants at wide receiver. Great athleticism doesn't always translate to the field, though. In his case, he's showed a level of consistency that can't be overlooked. 

"He has done an outstanding job of putting himself in position to have the opportunity to contribute here because of his work ethic," wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea said Wednesday. "I would say thus far in camp, like some other guys in the receiving group, he has made the most of his opportunities."

Peoples-Jones displayed the ability to stack cornerbacks and get vertical in limited opportunities last season, and he's looked even better during recent practices. His body control and concentration on passes have been exceptional. He's regularly made highlight-worthy receptions during training camp sessions. 

The Browns already have two star wide receivers and multiple tight ends they want to get on the field. But opportunities are sure to arise in multi-receiver sets. 

Besides, Beckham has missed at least four games in three of the last four seasons. Landry played through a hip issue in 2020 as well. Injuries happen. Depth is necessary. Peoples-Jones can play all three receiver spots and contribute on special teams. 

"Last year, I was so impressed with his ability to function mentally across a lot of different positions," O'Shea said. "Certainly, I think that adds value to a player when you can line up at different spots and be a multiple-role player, that is going to increase your opportunities."

Cleveland found some success late in the 2020 campaign by going five-wide, albeit with tight ends or even running backs flexed. Stefanski can continue to tweak his scheme and take advantage of the talent available to him.

The Browns' offensive play-caller knows what he has in OBJ and Landry. Rashard Higgins has developed a rapport with Mayfield that's only gotten stronger each season. General manager Andrew Berry drafted speedster Anthony Schwartz in this year's third round. Clearly, opportunities could be limited as Cleveland searches for the right balance to reach optimal efficiency. 

However, Peoples-Jones' continued excellence in practice will force Stefanski and Co. to implement packages where he's on the field with a chance to shine. 

A year from now, the Browns could move on from Beckham and Landry because of their combined $31.6 million salary-cap hit (but only $1.5 million guaranteed). Peoples-Jones should see incremental growth and usage over the new few months and into next season, when he could emerge as Cleveland's WR1. 

Not every incoming wide receiver can be like Beckham or the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson, who set a rookie receiving record last season. Peoples-Jones is only 22 years old after declaring early for the draft. He clearly needed time and the right situation to fulfill his immense potential. He still has a lot to prove, but he's coming on strong. 

Considering his performance throughout training camp, Peoples-Jones should kick open the door, receive more playing time this fall and give the Browns yet another exciting option for an already impressive offense.  

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly spent $1.8 million for natural porcelain veneers encrusted with diamonds as part of a "full mouth reconstruction" to replace 28 teeth.

TMZ Sports reported Sunday that Beckham enlisted celebrity dentist Dr. Thomas Connelly, who previously worked for musicians Post Malone and Chris Brown, to handle the process, which included 13-carat diamonds.

The work featured a "iced-out cross on his fang" and several back teeth "infused with gems," per TMZ.

Beckham, the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is set to return for the Browns this season after suffering a torn ACL last October.

Last week, the 28-year-old LSU product told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that "there's something special going on" in Cleveland heading into the 2021 campaign.

"The only reason to do this is to get one of them rings. The whole reason," Beckham said, later adding, "Cleveland needs a championship, and I think that's the goal."

He's heading into the third season of a five-year, $90 million contract, which will bring his career on-field earnings to $108.9 million, per Spotrac.

Beckham and the Browns are scheduled to kick off the regular season Sept. 12 when they visit the two-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in one of the opening week's marquee games.

Nick Chubb and the Cleveland Browns reached an agreement on a three-year, $36.6 million extension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

After earning $3.4 million in 2021, Chubb will get a significant raise. His new extension will pay an average of $12.2 million per season. That will make him the fifth-highest paid tailback in the NFL. Chubb's cap hit will trail only Ezekiel Elliott ($16.5 million), Derrick Henry ($15 million), Alvin Kamara ($14.5 million) and Christian McCaffrey ($14.3 million), per Spotrac. 

Chubb entered the 2021 season with his rookie deal set to expire after four years and $7.4 million. Spotrac previously projected his market value at $12.1 million, expecting him to sign for four years and $48.5 million, which would make him the seventh-highest paid running back in the league. 

At the end of his rookie deal, the No. 35 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft was the 27th-highest-paid tailback. 

As the Browns continue to keep their championship window open, Chubb has solidified his spot in their backfield where he's teamed up with Kareem Hunt. In 2020, they helped the team achieve the third-best rushing offense in the league with 148.4 yards per game and 21 touchdowns. 

Chubb accounted for 1,067 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns himself last year—his second consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards—while hauling in 16 catches for 150 yards but no scores as the team reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002. 

As Cleveland looks to remain a force in the AFC North, the 25-year-old is now locked in through 2025.

Chubb will now look to end a Browns championship drought that dates back to 1964.

Running back Nick Chubb agreed to a three-year, $36.6 million contract extension with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The deal reportedly includes $20 million in fully guaranteed money.

Josina Anderson previously reported the two sides had been "making progress" in negotiations.

A second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, Chubb heading into the final year of his rookie contract with a $4.3 million cap hit in 2021. He will now have the sixth-highest contract at his position based on average annual value, per Spotrac.

The two-time Pro Bowler finished last season with 1,067 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games.

The 25-year-old trailed only Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook with 88.9 rushing yards per game in 2020, while his 5.6 yards per carry ranked second among running backs behind J.K. Dobbins.

He is one of the most efficient players in the NFL with at least 5.0 yards per carry in each of his three seasons.

Chubb has shared time in the backfield with Kareem Hunt over the last two seasons, and the reduced snaps could help him remain fresh deeper into his career, which is a concern for running backs. Chubb has 680 rushing attempts through three seasons, while Henry has 681 in the last two seasons combined.

The Georgia product also shared carries with Sony Michel throughout his college career.

With heavily used running backs like Todd Gurley, Le'Veon Bell and Ezekiel Elliott struggled after getting big contracts, Chubb's limited mileage could be a plus.

A new deal also helps Cleveland lock down another member of its young core as it tries to take another step toward contention in 2021. Defensive end Myles Garrett is signed through 2026, and quarterback Baker Mayfield might not be far behind.

Last season, the Browns reached the divisional round of the playoffs after earning their first postseason win since 1994, raising expectations for the talented squad.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly passed his physical Tuesday after suffering a torn left ACL last season.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the fact that Beckham passed his physical means he will not be placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp Friday.

The 28-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career, including last season, when the torn ACL limited him to seven games.

Beckham also missed 12 games in 2017 with the New York Giants due to a fractured ankle, and he entered 2021 having missed time in five of his seven NFL seasons.

The Giants selected the LSU product with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the top pass-catchers in the league.

Beckham was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons. He finished with at least 90 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of those campaigns as well.

However, he hasn't quite been the same player since the ankle injury that caused him to miss most of the 2017 season.

He did manage back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2018 and 2019, but his per-season average across those two seasons was 76 receptions for 1,044 yards and five touchdowns—well below what he produced from 2014 to '16 (96 receptions, 1,374 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns).

Beckham was traded from the Giants to the Browns prior to the 2019 season, as Cleveland hoped he could be the ideal deep-threat complement to slot receiver Jarvis Landry.

OBJ has shown flashes of brilliance during his time with the Browns, but he is still trying to fully recapture the magic he displayed in New York.

Provided Beckham is healthy enough to play at the start of the 2021 regular season on Sept. 12, he figures to be one of quarterback Baker Mayfield's top weapons and a key figure in taking the top off the defense and opening things up for running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is drawing inspiration from the Milwaukee Bucks winning the NBA championship.

OBJ discussed the subject while speaking to the media Sunday:

Beckham said, "Watching the Bucks win a championship inspires you even more. Cleveland needs a championship."

With NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way, the Bucks beat the Phoenix Suns to win their first title in 50 years.

The Browns have never won a Super Bowl, and it has been 57 years since they last won an NFL championship.

While Beckham missed the latter part of the 2020 season and the playoffs after tearing his ACL, he watched the Browns reach the postseason for the first time since 2002.

In addition to that, they beat the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs and nearly upset the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.

Beckham, who was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three NFL seasons with the New York Giants, is working toward being ready for the start of the 2021 regular season.

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported in May that she believed Beckham would be ready by Week 1 based on his progress to that point.

Beckham's big-play ability is huge for the Cleveland offense in terms of opening up the underneath routes for other receivers like Jarvis Landry and keeping opposing defenses from stacking the box too much against the running game.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield made significant strides during his third NFL season in 2020, and the expectation is that he will take the next step in 2021.

For the Browns as a whole, the next step is making it to at least the AFC Championship Game, and based on how talented their roster is from top to bottom, that isn't an unrealistic expectation.

The Browns are in the conversation with the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans in terms of being the class of the AFC, which is new territory for the franchise.

It was a slow build for the Bucks en route to their first championship since 1971, as Giannis and Co. experienced some heartbreaking playoff losses first.

The Browns suffered a tough defeat to Kansas City last year, which may have been the learning lesson it needed to make it even further in 2021.

The Cleveland Browns unveiled their 75th anniversary uniforms for the 2021 season Friday, and, well, they look a whole lot like Cleveland Browns jerseys.

While there are differences in the numbers and a single white stripe atop the helmet, it would be understandable if you didn't notice.

The Browns have, throughout their history, been a traditional team when it comes to uniform choices. Orange helmets, brown numbers and letters and the occasional stripe is all you're going to get.

These anniversary digs may not knock off the socks of any non-Browns fan, but they're clean and traditional.