National Football League

Source: Free-agent center Mack to sign $42M offer sheet with Jags

Published Apr. 9, 2014 5:14 p.m. ET

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Mike Garafolo

The Jaguars and restricted free-agent center Alex Mack have agreed in principle on a five-year, $42 million deal, and an offer sheet is likely to be signed Friday, a source told FOX Sports. 

The sides have discussed multiple structures for the deal, any of which would make Mack the highest-paid center in the NFL. (The Panthers' Ryan Kalil currently leads the way at $8 million per season.) They appear to have settled on a contract that will pay him $18 million guaranteed in its first two years. He then will have an option to void the deal, which is protection against Cleveland matching the offer and then having control over Mack for three more seasons. If he doesn't void the contract at that point, he will get another $8 million guaranteed in 2016, bringing the total to $26 million in guarantees.

The Browns gave Mack the transition tag, which came with an offer of $10 million for this season. Mack has yet to sign the tag, and his new deal -- which the Browns will have five days to match -- includes a clause that will prevent either team from giving him the franchise tag again in the future.

The Browns and Mack's representatives had tried to reach an agreement on a long-term deal but have been unable to do so. The source said Mack is wary of how the Browns have conducted business in recent years, with their firing of former coach Rob Chudzinski after one season and the front-office shuffle that ensued serving as a discouraging end to Mack's fifth season in Cleveland. 

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam indicated to reporters Tuesday that he expected to match any offer Jacksonville or another team would make.

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