The Cleveland Browns signed guard Wyatt Teller to a four-year contract extension on Tuesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however NFL Network reported the deal was worth $56.8 million with $29 million guaranteed.
A $14.2 million per year average would make Teller the third-highest paid guard in the league behind Washington’s Brandon Scherff and Kansas City’s Joe Thuney.
“Wyatt Teller’s NFL journey is a remarkable story of resiliency and work ethic,” said Andrew Berry, Browns executive vice president of football operations and general manager.
“He entered the NFL as an unheralded fifth-round pick, was traded to a completely new organization and then placed in a position battle that gave him no assurances of playing time. Yet, rather than bemoaning his lot, he looked at his challenge as a great opportunity. During that time he completely changed his body composition, competed daily to earn his starting job and developed a ceaseless desire to learn from the best OL coach in our sport. To see Wyatt turn himself into one of the top guards in the game has been an enormous pleasure.”
Teller, 26, figured to be a highly pursued free agent following the 2021 season.
“Wyatt is a tenacious, physical football player,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s a tone-setter for our team and brings a physicality that helps establish the brand of football we want to play. Wyatt is also an extremely diligent and hard worker. We love having him on our team and are excited for him and his family to be rewarded with this hard-earned contract.”
Teller, a fifth-round selection of the Buffalo Bills in 2018, was traded to Cleveland in August 2019 for two late-round picks. He was named the team’s starting right guard later that season.
“It’s been a long road,” Teller said. “I faced adversity. Drafted later than you think, and then I had an opportunity and tried to make the most of it. I got traded after that and was disappointed at first, but then you realize you’re wanted by another team and wanted by another city. I was given another opportunity and luckily I made the most of it.”
