The NFL season is slowly approaching, as teams are beginning to report to training camp. For the Cleveland Browns, the rookies have already reported, with veterans required in town early this week. The team has undergone multiple changes this offseason; the most noticeable is the offensive line.
The Browns have essentially replaced the entire offensive line from last season, with two rookies potentially starting. The free agency acquisitions, signing guards Elgton Jenkins (who could also play center)
and Zion Johnson, as well as trading for tackle Tytus Howard, were all brought in to help bolster this line. With the moves that Cleveland made to improve the offensive line, the question everyone asked was whether the team did enough to improve one of the weakest offensive lines in football last season.
It’s not an understatement to say that many of the Browns offensive problems last year stemmed from lackluster offensive line play. With instability at the tackle spots and deteriorating play on the interior, Cleveland’s offensive line struggles were more of an issue than people want to admit; blaming quarterbacks and coaches is way more fun.
Browns GM Andrew Berry is known for attacking position groups that are the weakest. Berry has done this multiple times during his tenure in Cleveland, and this year he’s done it with the offensive line. In terms of the tackle spots, trading for Howard was the first domino that fell. Howard was the lone bright spot on a struggling Houston Texans offensive line and brings versatility, as he can play both guard and tackle. The same can be said for Jenkins. Before tearing his ACL, Jenkins was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers. Jenkins is primarily a guard, but the Packers chose to move him to center this past season; while the results were less than ideal, that is the role he could play in Cleveland as well. When healthy, Jenkins has proven he can be a quality starter.
The team’s biggest splash this free agency was signing Johnson, who also played on a struggling offensive line with the Los Angeles Chargers, and is likely going to start at the left guard position.
Spencer Fano, who the Browns drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, is the cornerstone of this offensive line. Fano, who was one of the top prospects in his class, has the versatility to be kicked inside if necessary, but it’s likely he will be the team’s starting left tackle for the future. Parker Brailsford, who the team drafted in the fifth round, could potentially start at center for the team. Austin Barber was also drafted, adding another young tackle option.
On paper, this unit is better than last season’s group. Versatility is what stands out for the archetype of players that the Browns acquired. Multiple players that can play different positions. However, it’s a valid question if Cleveland did enough to improve the unit. Center Tyler Linderbaum was a highly coveted offensive lineman in free agency, but he chose to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders. Linderbaum would’ve made sense for the Browns due to his familiarity with current head coach Todd Monken and his scheme, but his price tag would’ve been too hefty for the team to pay, and it would’ve crippled the rest of the unit in terms of paying for other players.
Overall, this unit looks improved, but time will tell if the moves made in free agency and in the draft will pay dividends.
Do you think the Browns offensive line is improved, much improved, or similar as last year’s unit?
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