NFL News & Analysis

Cleveland Browns sign guard Joel Bitonio to 3-year, $48 million extension through 2025

Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio (75) and running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) celebrate after quarterback Case Keenum (5) rushed for a first down during the second half against the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Browns signed left guard Joel Bitonio to a three-year contract extension one day after locking up right guard Wyatt Teller.

Bitonio’s three-year deal is worth up to $48 million, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday.

Teller (89.8) and Bitonio (88.7) are the second- and third-highest-graded guards in the NFL this season, and now both players are signed through the 2025 season. Teller recently signed a four-year deal worth $56.8 million.

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Bitonio was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He’s been named to three straight Pro Bowls and second-team All-Pro teams. He is PFF’s sixth-highest-graded guard over the past five seasons and ranks sixth among guards with at least 2,000 snaps in overall PFF grade since he was drafted in 2014.

Highest graded guards since 2014 (min. 2,000 snaps)
Name Snaps PFF grade
Marshal Yanda 5335 93.5
Zack Martin 7265 93.2
Brandon Brooks 6268 90.4
Quenton Nelson 3623 88.6
T.J. Lang 3865 86.8
Joel Bitonio 6854 85.5
Shaq Mason 6153 85.4
Ali Marpet 5608 84.9
David DeCastro 7125 84.8

Click here to view Joel Bitonio's career in PFF Premium Stats

“After last season, we decided that one of our major football priorities would be to make Joel Bitonio a Brown for the rest of his career,” Browns executive VP of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry said in a statement. “Joel is one of our most decorated players and is the ideal personification of our “tough, smart, accountable” mantra. We value Joel’s high-level performance, leadership, consistency and durability.

“We are all excited about this extension and hopeful that at the end of his career we will all be looking forward to celebrating Joel’s gold jacket fitting in Canton.”

You can use PFF's OL/DL matchup chart to find advantageous fantasy football matchups for run blocking (Run) or for pass blocking (Pass). Use this chart to identify running backs who are likely to have more room to run and quarterbacks who are likely to have more time to throw.

The Cleveland Browns started the 2021 season with the second-most cap space dedicated to their offensive line and have since extended both starting guards to top-of-market deals.

Bitonio was entering the final year of his contract in 2022 and will likely help the Cleveland Browns clear some cap room with the extension. The final member of the Browns' interior offensive line, NFLPA President J.C. Tretter, is also entering the final year of his contract in 2022, and there may be a decision this offseason on whether they can afford to pay all three guys top dollar with quarterback Baker Mayfield and cornerback Denzel Ward looking for big-time extensions in the near future.

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