The Cleveland Browns have restructured the contract of long-time left tackle Joe Thomas to make him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL next season, according to multiple reports.
The restructure of the contract shows the Browns believe Joe Thomas will fully recover from his torn triceps injury. The injury ended his streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps that began at the start of his career.
Thomas will make $13.5 million in 2018, including both his base salaries and bonuses. The new deal includes an increase of $3 million from 2017 to 2018. That incorporates a $1.5 million roster bonus paid a week ago and a $1.5 million raise in base salary for next season. Thomas will now earn $10.3 million in base salary for 2018.
The Browns selected Thomas No.3 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. Thomas earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first 10 seasons in the league, despite his team’s continued struggles. He has also been honored with six First Team All-Pro awards during his career.
Overall, most experts regard Thomas as one of the best left tackles in the NFL. The league listed him as one of its top 100 players for the last seven consecutive years.
The restructured contract ends any rumors that the Browns will trade or let him go in the offseason. Trade rumors concerning Thomas have become the norm in the NFL for years, including this season. Thomas himself admitted that he was almost traded to the Denver Broncos two years ago in a recent interview with PFT Live.
Instead, the Browns appear committed to Thomas as a cornerstone to the current rebuild.
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