When the Cleveland Browns scrapped what appeared to be the succession plan at center by trading away young Austin Corbett, starter JC Tretter didn’t flinch one way or the other. Dealing Corbett to the Rams leaves the Browns with only the veteran Tretter at center, and he’s set to be a free agent at the end of the 2019 season.
However, Tretter doesn’t seem all that concerned with parlaying his increased leverage into a contract extension right away. He knows it doesn’t help to worry about next season when there’s still a lot of football left in this season.
“When you get caught up reading tea leaves, you kind of get lost in the sauce a little bit,” Tretter said before leaving for the bye weekend. “I don’t really think about that (a contract extension) too much. I still think there’s a long, long time to go, a lot of season left, and we all need to be focused on things that are right in front of us right now.”
He also stated the Browns have not approached him about a new contract either since dealing away Corbett, who switched to center after quickly washing out at tackle and guard.
“I came into this season thinking I was just going to play it out and let everything happen as it happens,” Tretter said. “So I’m not worried or nervous. I’ve been through it once with Green Bay, so it’s really nothing to worry about it. I’m just focused on whatever I can do to help this team win. I think we all need to be focused on that.”
Tretter, now 28, figures to be one of the best offensive linemen available in free agency this offseason if he and the Browns elect to let it play out, to use his words.
