The Cleveland Browns could not have a worse problem a few short weeks before the draft. The team's starting center who has played every game since 2009, Alex Mack, is expected opt out of his contract, which will void the three years remaining on his deal as he looks to become the NFL's highest paid center.
This is particularly bad timing, as Mack was key to solidifying the Browns offensive line. The Browns need to protect their franchise quarterback, and the best way of doing that was to keep Mack on the team. Now, the decision on whether to draft Carson Wentz or Jared Goff seems somewhat irrelevant because if the Browns cannot protect their quarterback, they will not have one for very long.
The Browns could always sign Mack for more money, but it seems as if the 30-year-old offensive lineman is looking for a change of scenery. There are currently four teams in desperate need for a starting quality center: the Cincinnati Bengals, the Washington Redskins, the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars made an offer to Mack a couple of seasons ago, but the Browns matched it and kept Mack on their roster. Now Mack may see a chance to get in on the ground floor of something great or a chance to win a Super Bowl with a contender.
If Mack were to go to the Redskins or the Bengals, those teams would have a much better shot of getting deeper into the playoffs. The Bengals are also in the same state and are by far the better team. The Bengals also have $38 million in cap space and may not even attempt to bring most of their free agents back. The Redskins are somewhat of a long shot, as they are currently 31st in the NFL when it comes to cap space.
The Rams and Jaguars are on the rise, and Mack may realize this. The Jaguars put up some of the best offensive numbers in the history of their franchise in 2016 and have a lot of youthful playmakers. The Rams just added Todd Gurley (who could potentially be the best running back in the NFL) and will look to solidify this offensive line. Mack wants to be with a winning franchise, as it appears as though he is tired of waiting for the Browns to finally get in sync.
