ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2025 NFL training camp at a crossroads in terms of identity and personnel. After spending the last two seasons tailoring their offense around Deshaun Watson’s strengths, Cleveland is pivoting back to the familiar. They seem set to follow head coach Kevin Stefanski’s foundational scheme that powered the Browns’ return to playoff relevance in the early 2020s. With Watson still sidelined due to a setback in his recovery from an Achilles tear, the Browns are re-embracing the run-heavy system that once defined them. Will that strategic reset be enough?
This year’s camp won’t just be about tweaking playbooks. The Browns have ushered in a wave of competition and youth to complement their returning veterans. Four new (okay, not entirely new) quarterbacks were brought in to compete for the starting job. It’s an open contest while Watson recovers. The team also added fresh legs to the backfield in rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, plus tight end Harold Fannin Jr. All of them could be leaned on heavily from day one. However, with only two wide receivers on the roster, with Jerry Jeudy among them, who’ve ever reached the 50-catch mark in a season, depth remains a concern. Still, none of these positional battles looms as large as the one brewing in the trenches.
Here we’ll try to look at the Cleveland Browns player who is under the most pressure as they enter the 2025 NFL season.
On the surface, Cleveland’s offensive line is one of the most experienced units in the league. Scratch just beneath that surface, though, and a potential disaster is waiting to unfold. Four of the Browns’ five starting offensive linemen are all set to hit free agency in 2026, with contracts voiding after the 2025 season. Those guys are Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, Wyatt Teller, and Jack Conklin. That’s not a long-term foundation. That’s a ticking clock.
The Browns didn’t ignore the issue in the offseason. They signed Teven Jenkins, a versatile lineman with starter experience, and Cornelius Lucas to bolster depth. Yet both are on one-year deals. Jenkins is the only one of the group under 30 years old. That makes him the most logical candidate for a long-term extension. However, with all five starting spots potentially up for grabs by next offseason, Cleveland needs more than stopgaps. The Browns need a succession plan.
The return of Bitonio for a 12th NFL season offers a much-needed sense of continuity. Bitonio is still playing at a high level, and his leadership is invaluable. Alongside veterans Conklin, Pocic, and Teller, the unit brings chemistry that’s rare in the league. Still, familiarity doesn’t equal security. Injuries have plagued this group in recent years, and age is becoming a factor. Conklin has battled multiple knee injuries, while Bitonio is nearing the twilight of his career.
This is where the Browns must act, and training camp is the perfect...
