The Cleveland Browns offensive line was considered one of the team’s greatest strengths entering the 2023 season. However, like the rest of the offense, it was beset by injuries. First, right tackle Jack Conklin went down in the season’s first half. Left tackle Jed Wills missed half the season. December saw the team playing with tackles No. 4 and No. 5 after Conklin’s replacement, rookie Dawand Jones, was lost as well. The interior of the line held up better, but only guard Wyatt Teller managed to play in all 17 games.
The good news is the entire starting offensive line corps – plus Jones – is locked in for 2024. But the Cleveland Browns are up against the salary cap and looking for any ways to extend their rapidly closing championship window. So the question for the team is: What’s the most efficient way to reload the offensive line for 2024?
Evaluating The Cleveland Browns Offensive Line
Even with injuries, the Cleveland Browns offensive line was a bit of a disappointment in 2023, particularly early in the season. However, part of this can be put down to the struggles of the entire offensive unit. The unit was built to showcase the talents of running back Nick Chubb, who only played a game and a quarter before tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. Built around the play-action pass, the offense had a hard time figuring it out after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson was lost in Week 3.
The Browns offensive line, particularly the pass blocking, improved as the season went on. Even with reserve tackles, the offense managed to find a new identity in its improbable December run. The simpler offense lent itself to getting the ball out faster. Though the team was playing with Geron Christian and James Hudson, who both graded near the bottom of the league, quarterback Joe Flacco was the NFL’s #1 rated quarterback. With Cleveland seemingly poised to run a simpler, talent-focused scheme entering 2024, the Browns offensive line should be more efficient, with a few tweaks.
Jettison Left Tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.
The Cleveland Browns offensive line added Jedrick Wills Jr. in the first round of the draft from Alabama in 2020. Wills was a highly-rated prospect, expected to make an immediate impact. The move was a surprise, as many pundits considered Wills to be a better fit at right tackle than left. However, Cleveland’s faith seemed to be rewarded when Wills became an instant starter and graded highly with a 79.4 pass block rating. Unfortunately, that was by far his best pass-block grade.
Wills’ pass blocking has regressed with each passing season. His run blocking improved some in his sophomore season but fell off after. 2023 was the worst season of his career, as his overall grade dropped significantly. Moreover, Wills seemed disinterested and poorly conditioned most of the time.
The Browns picked up his $15 million fifth-year option before the season. That money is fully guaranteed. He can be cut with a post-June 1 designation, pushing half of that into 2025. Alternatively, he can be traded, with the Browns likely to eat a portion of the contract. But given his ratings weren’t all that much better than Christian and Hudson, the team should move on and reclaim what cap space they can.
The Browns Offensive Line Without Wills
Wills never found his way at left tackle. The Browns’ offensive line room does have two solid tackles in it without him. Like Wills, though, they’re both suited for the right side. Jack Conklin has been among the league’s best for years and was rewarded with a contract extension after the 2022 season for that. His 2023 replacement, Dawand Jones, had a solid first season. He was named to the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie team for his efforts.
A good left tackle on the open market would cost the Browns somewhere between $20-25 million, money the team does not have. Neither do they have a first-round pick to trade for one. Therefore, the Browns are going to have to get creative to fix their issue on the blind side.
Reshuffling the Existing Personnel
The good news is that the Browns offensive line already has a player capable of playing left tackle: Joel Bitonio. Bitonio hasn’t played much left tackle in his career, but when he has, he grades out just as well as when he plays inside at guard.
Some might argue that moving Bitonio out is weakening one position to strengthen another. This is true – if there wasn’t a solid replacement on staff. In college, Conklin played left tackle. But he was widely acknowledged as not being quite athletic enough to hold up against the NFL’s elite pass rushers. But he was projected to have the talent to play guard as well as right tackle. In addition, playing inside could help his game as he will not have to cover the edge after returning from his knee injury. That allows Jones to become the full-time right tackle, with an entire season to improve his run blocking.
Building the Browns Offensive Line For the Future
Losing Wills and promoting Jones weakens the Browns offensive line reserves. Further weakening the group is center Nick Harris is an unrestricted free agent. Harris was the offensive line’s swingman in 2023, even playing fullback or as an extra blocker at times. Harris has done well enough to get a starting opportunity somewhere else in 2024.
Christian and key reserve guard Michael Dunn are also free agents, while Hudson is under contract for 2024. That leaves the Browns offensive line a little thin. If nothing else, Cleveland has learned the benefit of having a deep bench from this past season.
With little draft capital, the Browns will need to be active in the free agent market. There’s always bargains to be had with linemen that are nearly good enough to start. Or there’s a player with a year or two left willing to join a championship-caliber team for one last ride. In addition, General Manager Andrew Berry has done well with his mid-round draft picks. Expect the team to make moves for the offensive line there as well.
Main Photo: Ken Blaze – USA Today Sports
