Report: Browns, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah agree to three-year, $39 million extension

The Cleveland Browns and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have agreed to a new contract extension with a huge payday. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Browns are extending Owusu-Koramoah on a three-year deal for $39 million.

The new contract includes $25 million in guaranteed money for the 24-year-old defender. Owusu-Koramoah and the Browns negotiated for some time on the extension, but now he’s locked in through the 2027 season.

A former second-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, Owusu-Koramoah was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for Cleveland. He became an immediate contributor to the defense as a rookie but had his best season yet last year.

In 2023, Owusu-Koramoah posted a career-high 101 tackles in 16 games played. He also had 21.5 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks. He also nabbed two interceptions, the first of his career coming in a December matchup against the Bears. The next week, against the Texans, he grabbed his second INT.

Without a contract extension, the Browns linebacker would have been headed for free agency. His original rookie contract, a four-year deal for $6.47 million, was set to expire in March.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit.