Browns’ Jordan Cameron unlikely to sign extension during season

Sep 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) is tackled after a pass reception by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron (84) is tackled after a pass reception by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Cameron’s hopes of having a new contract signed with the Cleveland Browns before the season opener were dashed when the two sides were unable to get together.

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Now it appears Cameron will have to bite the bullet and play out the entire season on his current deal.

If the Browns and Cameron don’t get a new deal done before the end of the year, there’s a good chance Cameron will end up being franchise tagged by Cleveland.

And there will be another controversy, like the Jimmy Graham flap, over whether a player who produces like a wide receiver and sometimes lines up as a wide receiver should be tagged as a receiver or a tight end.

That’s down the road, however. For now, Cameron just has to focus on getting himself back on the field. He was forced to miss the season opener with a sprained shoulder but is in line to return for the Browns’ next game against the Saints.

Cameron is set to make a base salary of $1.4 million this year, the final year of his rookie deal, with a $119,000 bonus.

On the open market, the highly-productive Cameron could expect to command big contract numbers. That’s if he can get back on the field and put up another season like he did in 2013, when he caught 80 balls for 917 yards and 7 TDs.

If he ends up being tagged by the Browns, his salary for next season would be in the neighborhood of $7 million. Which ain’t too shabby either.