Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Dawand Jones has accepted a modified contract for the 2026 season, according to a Saturday report from NFL Network.
The restructured agreement reduces Jones’ base salary to $1.5 million, with $1.145 million guaranteed. The 24-year-old appeared in only three contests this past season before suffering an LCL injury in his right knee that ended his campaign.
Originally, Jones was set to earn $3.674 million in 2026 after triggering an NFL salary escalator by participating in more than 35% of his team’s offensive plays during two of his initial three seasons. The former Buckeye qualified through the Proven Performance Escalator, which applies to fourth-year compensation for non-first-round draft picks on rookie deals.
Following his selection in the fourth round of the 2023 draft from Ohio State, Jones signed an initial four-year contract worth $4.63 million.
However, injuries have plagued each of his three professional campaigns, limiting him to 24 total appearances with 20 starts.
During his first year, he started nine contests before an MCL tear in his right knee cut short his rookie season. The following year in 2024, he participated in 10 games before a broken left fibula concluded his second campaign.
