Ethan Pocic, Joel Bitonio
(Photo: Diamond Images / Contributor)
Ethan Pocic was signed in 2022 on a veteran salary benefit deal paying him $1.5m to be Nick Harris' backup. Once Nick Harris and 2022 draft pick Dawson Deaton were lost to injury in the preseason Pocic got his chance and delivered a breakout season between two high performing guards.
He then signed a three year contract worth $18m that guaranteed him the first two season on the team. They had the chance to move on from him this offseason, saving $6m but they have decided to keep him around for the final year on his deal. He is 29.8 so can still play for several more years.
If you look at his pass blocking grades from PFF and how each player ranks from weeks 7 (when Watson was injured) to end of the season without the snow game (50% min snaps), Pocic was the 4th best center out of 25 qualifying players.
I would not rule out an extension in December to keep him around longer term if he has a good year. While you can find better players, you can do an awful lot worse.
Below is his current contract, I would expect him to be restructured at the end of August to create additional cap space on the team along with Denzel Ward.