The biggest shift Cleveland made this offseason wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t about headlines or splashy skill-position additions. It was the offensive line, and for the Browns, that may have been the most important thing they did.
After last season’s version of the team, this is a very different-looking Browns roster. With first-year head coach Todd Monken guiding a young group that is starting to come together, Cleveland spent the offseason reshaping both sides of the ball. But the work up front stands out above everything else.
The Browns attacked the line in every phase of the offseason. In free agency, they brought in Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard, three additions that changed the complexion of the group right away. They also brought back Teven Jenkins on a one-year deal after he handled the guard spot on a shaky line last season.
Then came the draft, where Cleveland kept adding bodies and talent. The Browns used their first pick on Spencer Fano, then came back later for Austin Barber and Parker Brailsford. That gave the line a much younger feel in a hurry.
That kind of overhaul was overdue. Cleveland had one of the oldest offensive lines in the NFL over the last two seasons, and the unit lost three veteran starters to retirement and free agency.
On top of that, the Browns were sitting near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. If they wanted even a real shot at being competitive, fixing the line was non-negotiable.
And the payoff should show up across the offense. The run game is the obvious place to start. With younger, more agile blockers in place, Todd Monken has more room to work with second-year backs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, both of whom already produced last year.
Pass protection matters just as much. Cleveland’s quarterbacks spent too much time under pressure last season, and the additions at tackle, especially Spencer Fano and Tytus Howard, should give Deshaun Watson more time to go through his reads and extend plays when he needs to.
There’s also a bigger benefit in play here. Cleveland’s defensive line is being reshaped too, and that unit is expected to improve this season. That means both fronts have been pushing each other through camp, helping raise the standard before week one arrives.
The early signs have been encouraging. Word out of training camp this summer was that the rookie linemen were showing they were worth the picks Cleveland spent on them. No matter who ends up starting, the Browns are in much better shape up front than they were a year ago.
In Other News...
Browns May Have Found An Unexpected Offensive Line Answer
Zak Zinter went into roster cutdowns as one of the more vulnerable names on the Browns offensive line, but he came out with his spot intact and a real chance to matter this season. The interior lineman had shown enough progress through training camp and the preseason to turn heads, and head coach Todd Monken was among those who took notice as Cleveland sorted through its final decisions.
For a line group that always has to brace for attrition, Zinter now looks like more than just a body on the depth chart. His rise from possible waiver candidate to 53-man roster member gives the Browns another interior option, and the kind of unexpected development that can quietly reshape how a team feels about its protection once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have Cut A Preseason Standout Too Soon
The Browns final roster cutdown on Sept. 1 included a move that now looks a little more interesting in hindsight: wide receiver Luke Floriea is gone, even after turning in a productive preseason. For a Cleveland team trying to sort out the back end of its receiver room, Floriea had done enough to at least stay on the radar, and thats exactly what has happened since he was released.
Seattle wasted little time taking a closer look, bringing Floriea in for a workout after losing wideout Cody White. The Seahawks are still filling out their depth chart, and Floriea could be in the mix for a reserve role or a spot on the practice squad, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland may have let a useful piece slip away a little too early. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Final Roster Call Sparks A Risky Defense Debate
The Browns got to their 53-man roster with one of the more revealing decisions of the final cutdown window, keeping 34-year-old fullback Michael Burton even with his recent injury history in the background. Head coach Todd Monken said the move was part of the plan, pointing to Burtons experience and the role he plays in the offense, a reminder that Cleveland values familiarity and function when the roster gets tight.
The bigger question may sit on the other side of the ball, where the Browns cut cornerback Michael Coats Jr. and pushed other young defensive players to the practice squad. That leaves the defense looking thinner in spots than some around the team might like, and it adds a little extra weight to every remaining backup and special teams piece as Cleveland sorts out how much depth it really has. [Read more 🡒]