BEREA — The Browns took it almost all the way down to the wire. Ultimately, a league source confirmed Monday morning, they picked up the fifth-year option on left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler was the first to report.

The team had until 4 p.m. Tuesday to make a decision on the option, which would've kept Wills under his rookie contract through the 2024 season. The fifth year on the deal was set earlier in the offseason by the league at $14.175 million.

The decision on Wills was one the Browns played close to the vest throughout the offseason. General manager Andrew Berry declined to comment on the subject at four separate media availabilities dating back to the NFL Combine in late February.

That silence on a decision ran counter to what both he and head coach Kevin Stefanski insisted was satisfaction with Wills' overall performance.

"Pleased with Jed's progress," Berry said at the NFL Owners' Meetings in late March. "Thought he had his best year this past year. I think, as you guys know is my custom, I don't really talk about those things in this setting, but we are happy with Jed."

Wills, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Alabama, started all 17 games last season. It was the first time he did so in his career, despite dealing with an ankle injury suffered in the Week 3 win over Pittsburgh and a back issue that flared up in the Week 16 loss to the New Orleans.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wills graded out at 62.9 out of 100 overall last season, including a 69.6 pass-blocking grade and a 55.3 run-blocking mark. Despite those grades, which aren't issued by the team, Stefanski liked what he saw from the left tackle.

"I think in the moment, in the season, you felt it because he was healthy and was playing well," Stefanski said at the Owners' Meetings. "But as you go back and watch a lot of the tape over and over, he’s doing a nice job in the run game and the pass game. He’s winning his one on one matchups. Never perfect because it’s hard to be perfect as a left tackle in this game, but he played well. I really think, if he stays healthy, the trajectory continues to ascend."

By picking up the option, the Browns assure their starting five offensive linemen are signed through the 2024 season. Center Ethan Pocic signed a new three-year, $18-million deal at the start of free agency in March, while right tackle Jack Conklin signed a four-year, $60-million extension in late December.

All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio's three-year, $48-million extension he signed in 2021 kicks in this season. Right guard Wyatt Teller's four-year, $56.8-million extension went into effect last season.

"Anytime you can keep a group together like that for multiple years, just stay in the same system and just keep on learning and learning about each other and how each other works, it plays a huge role in more cohesion as an offensive line," Conklin said after signing his extension in December. "That is the most important thing for offensive linemen is cohesion. If one of us is off in a play, then the play is screwed up. We have to be able to work together as a group of five and commit to that. That is when big plays will happen.”

Wills was a member of the NFL All-Rookie team after playing in 15 regular-season and both playoff games for the Browns, while grading out at a 62.6 overall and a career-best 77.6 pass blocking. He played in 98% of the Browns' offensive snaps, but was flagged a career-high 11 times, including eight times for false starts.

A second-year step forward was expected for Wills, who had not played left tackle prior to getting to the NFL. However, an ankle injury sustained in the season opener at Kansas City lingered throughout the season, costing him two games.

Wills also missed two games in December of that season due to a COVID outbreak on the team. He played just 90% of the Browns' offensive snaps while appearing in 13 games, yet had a career-best PFF grade of 66.1 overall.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns pick up fifth-year option on LT Jedrick Wills Jr.