Dawgs By Nature
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry delivered on his promise to make a “heavy investment” in the offense during the recently completed off-season.
Berry rebuilt the entire offensive line, highlighted by first-round selection Spencer Fano at left tackle, along with veteran additions Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins, and Zion Johnson. And, for good measure, they added tackle Austin Barber and center Parker Brailsford later in the draft.
The pass catchers also received an extreme makeover with the selections of wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston and tight ends Joe Royer and Carsen Ryan, to go with incumbents Jerry Jeudy and Harold Fannin Jr.
Put all those together with returning running backs Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders, and the Browns appear to have a solid core on offense. They may not be fully unlocked until Berry solves the quarterback position in 2027 (or later, since this is still the Browns), but, overall, it looks like the Browns are on track.
While the offense appears to be on the upswing, it is fair to ponder who will still be on the roster when the Browns pull up stakes and move to their new stadium in Brook Park for the start of the 2029 season.
The NFL is a league, after all, where the average career is just a little more than 3 years for the players, so let’s run through the current roster and make some educated guesses.
Fano plays a premium position and will still be on his rookie contract, so he is as close to a lock on offense as you will find. And the early reports about Barber have been positive, so if he lives up to expectations, he should be in the starting lineup along with Fano.
Everyone else is in the very soft maybe category, as Howard and Jenkins will both be 33, and Johnson will be entering his age-30 season. None of them will be old for an offensive lineman, but younger and better replacements should be in place by then.
Concepcion and Boston are in. After them? It’s not so clear.
Jeudy’s contract runs through 2027, and if Concepcion and Boston are the real deal, it is hard to see Berry signing Jeudy to another contract. That becomes even more dicey if second-year wide receiver Isaiah Bond can up his game after being involved in a full offseason of work. Bond is no guarantee to still be with the Browns in 2029, but his chances are higher than Jeudy’s, for what that is worth.
Expect to see Fannin in the marketing materials as the Browns prepare for the new era in Brook Park. After him, it is a bit of a crapshoot. Royer has good hands – always a plus when catching passes is part of the job description – and Ryan has potential, but this is a position group that will look much different come 2029.
Judkins appears to be...
