Jedrick Wills entered the 2024 NFL season at a critical juncture in his career, facing the pressure of a contract year amid a recovery from a knee injury.
Coming off a season filled with ups and downs, there was no certainty that the former first-round pick would be ready for Week 1. While the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff hoped for a quick return, Wills didn’t make his season debut until Week 3, and he didn’t play every offensive snap until Week 5. The uncertainty continued to build, and when Wills decided to sit out during the Browns’ stunning victory over the Baltimore Ravens on October 27, it seemed like a pivotal moment in his future with the team.
Wills attributed his decision to sit out as a “business decision,” a phrase that immediately raised eyebrows. In NFL parlance, a “business decision” often carries a connotation that a player is choosing not to risk further injury, either to protect his career or future earning potential. Given that Wills was entering a contract year, his comments quickly became the subject of speculation—was he prioritizing his health at the expense of his team, or was this a calculated decision to preserve his future?
The fallout from Wills’ choice has been swift, and not in his favor. After his absence in Week 8, second-year tackle Dawand Jones stepped in as a starter, earning the nod once again in Week 9. With Jones showing promise in the starting role, it now seems that Cleveland may have found its long-term solution at left tackle. For Wills, the timing couldn’t be worse. As his career and contract year hang in the balance, his once-promising future with the Browns appears increasingly uncertain.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the situation with the media, acknowledging that Wills’ choice of words regarding his “business decision” was less than ideal. “It was a poor choice of words,” Stefanski explained. “I know the connotation of ‘business decision.’ That’s not how he meant it. He did not feel like he was near 100% to help us. But a poor choice of words and he understands it.” Stefanski’s clarification, however, did little to assuage the growing narrative that Wills had placed his individual interests ahead of the team, especially at a time when the Browns were positioning themselves for a playoff push.
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While Wills may not have meant to suggest that he was safeguarding his future earnings, his choice to sit out raised valid questions about his commitment to the team’s success. In the NFL, where competition is fierce and careers are often short-lived, making a “business decision” like that can quickly sour relationships within the locker room and with the fanbase. For Wills, a player whose performance has often failed to live up to the expectations of a first-round pick, the benching serves as a stark reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee job security in the league.
Wills’ career to date has been a series of unfulfilled expectations. Despite his pedigree as a former top draft pick from Alabama, his play on the field has failed to match the high standards set for him. Over the course of his five-year NFL career, Pro Football Focus (PFF) has consistently rated Wills’ performance as average or worse. That lack of consistency has led to growing doubts about his ability to develop into a top-tier left tackle, which, in turn, has affected his standing with the Browns.
Entering his contract year, Wills faced a pivotal moment to prove that he could be the anchor of the offensive line and secure a lucrative long-term deal. However, his early-season struggles and the subsequent benching put that in jeopardy. Cleveland, meanwhile, appears to have found a potential solution in Dawand Jones, who has shown the kind of stability and promise that Wills has failed to deliver consistently. With Jones now entrenched as the starting left tackle, the Browns are unlikely to feel compelled to commit to Wills long-term—especially given his rocky history in Cleveland and the current circumstances surrounding his decision to sit out.
Wills’ future with the Browns is in flux, and it’s increasingly likely that his next opportunity may not come in Cleveland. With Jones positioned as the starter, Wills may find himself relegated to a swing tackle role—if he even remains with the team at all. That would mark a sharp decline for a player who was once viewed as a key piece of Cleveland’s offensive line and a potential cornerstone of the franchise’s future. In the competitive world of the NFL, the reality is that jobs aren’t guaranteed, and even a high draft pick like Wills can quickly see his stock fall if he doesn’t perform at a consistently high level.
The broader implications of Wills’ situation are clear: this season is likely his last chance to secure a significant contract, either with the Browns or another team. The NFL is a business, and players who don’t deliver on their potential often find themselves bouncing around the league in search of a second chance. Wills, however, may face an uphill battle to earn the type of contract many first-round picks secure—especially with his lack of development and the way he handled the knee injury situation.
It’s worth noting that injuries are a constant in the NFL, and Wills’ absence from the lineup could very well be a temporary setback. However, with the Browns now in a position to compete for a playoff spot, and with Jones performing well in his place, it’s hard to see the team going back to Wills unless injuries force a change. This leaves Wills in an increasingly precarious position as the season unfolds.
Looking ahead to 2025, Wills’ future in the NFL is anything but certain. While it’s possible that another team might take a chance on him, it’s unlikely that he will command the kind of salary expected from a former first-round pick. His best hope may be a short-term deal as a swing tackle, with a team hoping that a change of scenery might help unlock the potential that he has yet to fully realize.
For now, Wills’ focus will need to be on making the most of whatever opportunities remain in 2024. Whether that’s on the field with the Browns or elsewhere, he will need to prove that he can contribute at a high level and prove that his contract year was not defined by his “business decision,” but rather by his ability to help his team succeed.
