Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line last year began with basically the same group of guys that were ranked #2 in the league in 2023. That is, in Week 1. The Browns roster heading into this season, especially on the offensive line, including doubling up in the NFL draft at tackle, is very different.
The cast of characters all had a familiar tune last year: RT Jack Conklin, RG Wyatt Teller, C Ethan Pocic, LG Joel Bitonio, and LT Dawand Jones. These guys had all earned NFL All-Rookie Team honors, first and second-team All-Pro hardware, and their share of Pro Bowls.
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The Browns’ offensive line lineup in Week 18? RT KT Leveston, RG Teven Jenkins, C Luke Wypler/Zak Zinter, LG Bitonio, and LT Cam Robinson. The O-Line became Bits and his seven Pro Bowls, and then all second team or practice squad guys.
What began so happily, to see a decent offensive line to gauge where this offense really stood, ended with Bitonio trying to hold together a Band-Aid group with bungy cords.
Many offensive linemen were free agents, and only Teven Jenkins was re-signed. And he wasn’t even a starter. So, Cleveland started over and cleaned house.
Teller said his goodbyes to the Cleveland fanbase and then signed with the Houston Texans. Pocic and Conklin remain unemployed. The final domino recently fell when Bitonio officially retired.
Browns GM Andrew Berry then went to work and brought in Elgton Jenkins to compete with Wypler for the center position, along with rookie Parker Brailsford. The new guards are Zion Johnson and Teven Jenkins.
At offensive tackle, in free agency, RT Tytus Howard was brought in via trade from the Texans, and Spencer Fano and Austin Barber were taken in this year’s April NFL draft to compete with veteran Dawand Jones.
Along with the competition for center, both tackle spots don’t have clear starters at this juncture, even if many are assuming they do.
Yes, penciled in on the unofficial depth chart are Howard at right tackle and Fano at left. But is this really how this will play out? What are the Browns’ options?
Keep in mind, except for the center position, guys can convert from the rightside to the left side, and often have played both at some level.
In an interview with former Browns offensive guard Dan Fike, the question was asked regarding what the differences are between each side. His response:
“Right side, you are in a right-handed stance, and the left side, you are in a left-handed stance. And yes, you can jump from one side to the other. At Florida, we flip-flopped our lines during my junior and senior years so that we could play both left and right. It worked out for me, and I don’t recall it ever being an issue.”
Which all means that offensive linemen are mostly versatile and can learn to play the...
