The Cleveland Browns offensive linemen are a group that’s perhaps the most improved position on the team when general manager Andrew Berry went out and signed right tackle Jack Conklin in free agency. Berry followed up by drafting Jedrick Wills in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft before snagging Nick Harris in the fifth.
He restructured Chris Hubbard’s contract, keeping the serviceable tackle around as a backup. Also returning to the Browns in 2020 are Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Wyatt Teller, giving the Browns a blend of continuity and improvement on the line.
The starting five plus Hubbard, second-year player Drew Forbes, Harris, along with Kendall Lamm give the Browns talent and depth they’ve lacked on the unit for years. It also shows quarterback Baker Mayfield will have more time to throw and won’t be forced to get rid of the ball before he’s ready or try to squeeze a ball into coverage as he did so often in 2019.
2020 Cleveland Browns Offensive Linemen
Projected Starters: Wills, Bitonio, Tretter, Teller, Conklin
The Browns drafted Jedrick Wills with the 10th overall pick and he figures to be the plug and play type of player for the next decade. Wills is the Browns’ latest hopeful to replace retired left tackle, Joe Thomas. He brings everything you look for to the table in a tackle except experience at the position as he played right tackle in college. However, many first-round picks found success making the switch from the right to the left in the modern game. Wills should seize the position.
Bitonio is the most seasoned player on the line and is coming off his second-straight Pro Bowl season. He’s been with the Browns since 2014 and is the longest-tenured player on the line.
Tretter combines brain and brawn to be the leader on the offensive line. He’s not a spectacular player. And he won’t make any Pro Bowl rosters. But he’s durable, having played in and started every game since joining the Browns in 2017 and the former Ivy League product possesses a high football I.Q.
Teller became a starter at midseason in 2019 and never let go, starting nine games for the Browns and playing in 15. He played well enough to be the projected starter at right guard in 2020. His play was spotty, but he showed flashes and looks to improve after a year of starting experience.
Conklin is a former first-round pick who brings All-Pro experience to the Browns. He’ll play right tackle and is a mauler in the running game. He was the Browns’ prize free-agent signee in 2020 and also provides help in the passing game.
Projected Key Backups: Lamm, Forbes, Harris, Hubbard
Lamm played in four games in 2019, starting two. He’s not a full-time NFL starter but has shown enough to earn a roster spot as a backup.
Forbes spent much of 2019 on injured reserve but appeared in two games later in the season. With a year of experience, he’ll likely get a look to unseat Teller in training camp, though he faces an uphill battle.
Harris comes to the Browns as a fifth-round pick. He’s strictly a center though some reports showed the Browns may try him out at guard during camp. He’s undersized, at just 6’1″ and 302 pounds. He figures to be a backup in 2020.
Hubbard was often overwhelmed at right tackle in 2019 following a decent 2018 campaign but he faltered enough to entice the Browns to sign Conklin. Hubbard restructured his contract and figures to become a swing tackle in 2020, serving as the primary backup to Wills and Conklin.
Vying for a Spot: Evan Brown, Colby Gossett, Malcolm Pridgeon, Willie Wright
Evan Brown has made two stops prior to signing with the Browns in 2020. He’s bounced between active rosters and practice squads over his first two seasons in the league and hopes to find a permanent home in Cleveland. He appeared in four games with zero starts.
Colby Gossett is a former sixth-round pick from Appalachian State and has spent time on a few practice squads in his previous three stops. The Browns signed him to the practice squad in September 2019 and they promoted him to the active roster in December. He has played in five games over his career, starting four.
Malcolm Pridgeon signed with the Browns’ practice squad in September 2019 and finished the season there. He has yet to appear in an NFL game. Pridgeon played college football at The Ohio State University, giving him local ties to the Browns.
Willie Wright signed with the Browns as an undrafted free agent and spent the season on the practice squad. He played college football at Tulsa and hopes to unseat one of the backups for a spot on the roster. He faces an uphill battle in camp.
Rookies in Camp: Drake Dorbeck, Alex Taylor
Two undrafted rookies join the Cleveland Browns’ offensive line for camp. Drake Dorbeck played college football at Southern Mississippi and Alex Taylor comes to the Browns from South Carolina State. Dorbeck won the Kent Hull Trophy in 2019, which goes to the state’s top lineman. Taylor brings size and potential to the Browns but has faced only marginal competition in college.
