The Browns went into the draft with a clear priority: fix the offensive line, and do it fast. They used their first Day 1 pick on Spencer Fano out of Utah, then kept adding to the group with Austin Barber in the third round and Parker Brailsford in the fifth.
Barber has already made noise in spring workouts and looks like a strong contender for the swing tackle role. But the rookie drawing the most intrigue now is Brailsford, who, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com, has put himself in the mix to start at center.
"The Browns were extremely impressed in spring practices with rookie Parker Brailsford. The rookie has a legitimate chance to win the starting center spot," wrote Pluto."
He was a fifth-round pick who started 42 games in college. His first season was with Washington.
He then transferred to Alabama, following Washington coach Kalen DeBoer when he replaced Nick Saban."
That possibility changes the picture for Cleveland’s interior line. On paper, the Browns signed Elgton Jenkins to start at center this season, with Zion Johnson set at left guard and Teven Jenkins lined up at right guard. If Brailsford keeps climbing, though, George Warhop could have a different setup on his hands.
In that scenario, Elgton Jenkins would likely move to right guard, with Teven Jenkins becoming valuable depth behind him.
Brailsford is listed at 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, which makes him undersized for the position by NFL standards. That has raised some concern about how he’ll hold up against pro competition. So far, though, he has looked steady and has handled himself well.
His movement skills and ability to help create running lanes fit Todd Monken’s offense neatly, and the Browns clearly believed his technique and scheme fit were worth the gamble in the draft.
That’s the real takeaway here: Cleveland suddenly has choices. If Brailsford isn’t ready right away, the Browns can fall back on the original plan, slide Elgton Jenkins to the middle, and keep developing the rookie.
What started as a draft focused on protecting the quarterback’s blind side may have ended with two potential starters on the offensive line.
In Other News...
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Clevelands first training camp session brought an early jolt to the quarterback conversation when Deshaun Watson put the ball in harms way twice in a row. It was the kind of rough opening that immediately draws attention, especially for a player trying to reestablish himself after an Achilles injury and hold off Shedeur Sanders in the battle for the starting job.
Todd Monken spent part of his post-practice availability putting those plays in perspective, stressing that the defense made the throws difficult and that the sequence was more about competitive reps than a collapse in judgment. The Browns are still early in camp, but every snap at quarterback is going to be watched closely, and Watsons next chance to settle things down will matter just as much as the first one did. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Have A Real Reason To Worry About This Clowney Reunion
Jadeveon Clowney is back on the Browns radar as training camp opens, with the veteran pass rusher visiting Cleveland and the door left open for a possible reunion. It is familiar territory for both sides, since Clowney spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Cleveland and gave the defense a steady edge presence before moving on and turning in a productive year with Baltimore.
For the Browns, the appeal is obvious, but so is the complication. A move like this would add proven help to the front, yet it could also crowd the path for younger linemen such as Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire, who have been working to carve out bigger roles. Even without a deal in place, the visit alone raises the kind of summer questions that can shape how a defensive line develops once camp starts to get real. [Read more 🡒]