Browns: 5 most underpaid players for the upcoming 2021 season
By Chad Porto
2. Wyatt Teller
It’s hard to argue that Wyatt Teller isn’t the best bargain on the team. The reason why he isn’t number one is two-fold. Firstly, it has to do with health. Teller has been injured a bit and that’s concerning. What is going to happen to him in the future? Will he be healthy, or will the injuries continue to mount and take his skills away from him.
Secondly, consistency. Teller had a huge 2020, but he struggled in 2019. The guy at number one has never struggled. He’s the slam dunk option. That’s why Teller is at number two, despite being the number one ranked guard according to Pro Football Focus.
He also still struggles with pass blocking from time to time, so that does factor into things for what it’s worth, though just by a small margin.
That said, barely $2 million for an All-Pro caliber guard who’s only 26? As Bill Pullman said at the end of Independence Day; not too bad. Not too bad at all.
Consistency, health, and stability will need to be addressed in 2021 before talking about a huge contract extension. After all, he’s only had one good year. It doesn’t make sense to pay a guy top money if he can’t stay healthy and play more than 11 games. Currently, Teller is only averaging 10 starts over the last two years.
How much is ten starts worth to you? That’s something he needs to address before they back up the Brinks truck. He also needs to show he can repeat the success of 2020 in 2021. No one’s paying you for what you did, but what you will do. After all, the best way to determine future behavior is past behavior.
If Teller can play all 16 games, repeat the dominance he had in 2020 and improve his pass blocking, he’ll be worth every penny of a new deal.