Browns roster: Options at left tackle

The current situation at left tackle on the Cleveland Browns roster just isn’t cutting it. Cam Robinson replacement options?

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What is the story about?

The Cleveland Browns’ season isn’t going as planned. Come to think about it, when is a 2-7-0 record in any team’s strategy to be factual?

The offense is horrible, the defense is a roller coaster, and special teams just aren’t very special anymore. What in the do-hickey happened?

Despite the poor record, Cleveland actually has a chance to win the division. The Pittsburgh Steelers sit on top at 5-4-0, so that means just three games

out. Of course, that doesn’t mean they can accomplish this, and hardly anyone associated with the Browns fanbase is discussing the parameters of what it would take to capture the division flag. But the math is still valid.

Stranger things have happened.

The season is just half over. Eight games remain. There are quite a few opponents that the Browns could conceivably beat: Las Vegas Raiders (2-7-0), Tennessee Titans (1-8-0), and Cincinnati Bengals (3-6-0). Other teams on the schedule don’t have the best of records, such as the Baltimore Ravens (4-5-0). Plus, both the Steelers and San Francisco 49ers (6-4-0) are struggling.

To some, the season is over. With others, the attitude is to try to win as many games as possible that remain, and let’s see.

Of course, being a two-win club means there are a lot of problems. And maybe some can be fixed during the duration of these final games, whereas other issues will need to be addressed during the off-season. One thing for certain: next year’s roster will look a lot different. So will the coaching staff, no doubt.

Going forward with the remainder of the schedule right now, one huge issue this season that is glaring is the left tackle position. Every game.

Cam Robinson is the starting left tackle for the Browns. His playing style? Stink, stank, stunk (Christmas season is just around the corner!).

He came into the league as a second-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars out of Alabama in 2017. He then moved on to the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans for a single season each. Browns GM Andrew Berry then made a trade for the veteran. At Bama, he was an exceptional tackle, but he has certainly struggled since coming to Cleveland from the Texans in late September.

Robinson has no business playing tackle. On either side. Maybe he can be utilized as a guard with some tutelage and keep his services, but at tackle, he is a liability. He is not bad at run blocking, but his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grading at pass blocking is a horrible 43.2. That is basically where the issue lies, when Robinson has to drop back in pass protection.

Any defensive end with a great first step is already partially around Robinson. They are halfway into his body right off, and then keep bending against Robinson’s body until they are free. Or an inside spin move works every single time. Fake the outside leverage, then quickly spin, and that’s all there is to it. Freedom, and yet another sack for the defender’s stat sheet.

It is getting old watching Robinson offer a hand to his fallen quarterback after getting spilled onto the turf. Three different NFL clubs have sent him packing.

Since coming to the Browns in a trade, he has played 330 snaps and committed eight penalties. Against the New York Jets in Week 10, three of the six sacks the offensive line allowed were from Robinson’s defender.

On this problematic left side, seasoned veteran Cornelius Lucas has also been inserted earlier in the season, although he is more of a right tackle. Lucas could not do the job either. Before that, it was Dawand Jones’ job. He was better but not good at run blocking, and had his own issues as a pass blocker. His overall PFF grade was 32.8, if that means anything to anyone.

Jones only played in two complete games this year and had five penalties called on him. Early in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers, he suffered a knee injury that later required season-ending surgery. He only had 143 snaps this season.

This is not to say that there are other problems with other players along the offensive line this year, but left tackle is front and center.

So, what is the solution? We offer some suggestions. Keep in mind, these scenarios are for this year to assist in winning games left on the schedule. So, no suggestions of future draft picks are involved.

Browns Roster Resolution #1: “The Bottom of the Barrel Impact”

Let’s just say that Robinson isn’t the answer, nor is Lucas. This means somebody has to play left tackle, and quickly. The answer then is to reach out to an unsigned free agent and bring him in.

The choice: Isaiah Wynn (6’-2”, 305 pounds).

Wynn has played both tackle spots in college, although he has been a guard and right tackle since entering the league in 2018 as a first-round draft pick out of Georgia, where he was a Second Team All-American. He spent the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins and has 50 NFL starts. Last year, he had only one penalty and allowed a single sack.

In 2024, his PFF run-blocking grade was 60.9, but he ranked low in pass blocking. His versatility has helped him meet every team’s need at left tackle when the starter was hurt. He usually would begin at guard and then shift outside. Wynn has the talent and is a technically sound, block-winning lineman with a demeanor that offensive line coaches appreciate. Excellent work ethic.

The pickings for what is available for offensive line replacements are pretty thin. By the way, Jed Wills is still available. The reasoning here is that Wynn is plug-and-play with good instincts that can at least stabilize the left tackle spot and not worry all game about how many times the Browns’ quarterback is going to be pressured, or get his uniform dirty.

Wynn isn’t exactly the bottom of the barrel, but he is close to what’s left unsigned. Even so, his presence is better than trotting Robinson out there again.

Browns Roster Resolution #2: “The Phantom Tackle”

(Editor’s Note: We really need a sarcasm font option inside of our articles, not just in our awesome comment section.)

The premise here is to sit Robinson, or just release him instead. Then, in his spot, let’s not place any left tackle on the field. Play 10 on 11, and let the defensive end have a full run into the backfield on every passing down.

It’s basically what is happening now, just with a brief pause by Robinson. Just let the EDGE rusher fully go without any disruption or the aggravation of someone stepping in front of him for a nano second before he finds Cleveland’s quarterback trying to step up or out of the pocket.

Of course, with this scenario, there is nobody to access culpability or point a finger at. Which is why we all play group sports – it gives you somebody to blame.

Browns Roster Resolution #3: “The Switcherooski”

Attrition affects every single ballclub all season long. Especially later in the year when players aren’t as fresh as they need to be.

The plan here is to take care of the problem from within. Move LG Joel Bitonio out to left tackle, and then insert Luke Wypler at left guard.

Bitonio has an overall PFF grade of 74.1 with a good rating at both run and pass blocking. He is a six-time Pro Bowler, and maybe he just needs a little spice in his life as his career winds down. He has played left tackle before with the Browns. Actually, it was one game against the Las Vegas Raiders during the pandemic.

But Bitonio played his final year at Nevada at left tackle and, for his efforts, was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference. He was then a Senior Bowl invite and played both tackle and guard.

The move outward would keep Bitonio on the left side of the line, so his back foot and hand placement would be continuous.

Wypler would probably be the choice for OL coach Mike Bloomgren, although Zak Zinter and Teven Jenkins would get some consideration. Wypler’s development has progressed, and he played guard during the preseason games this past summer despite being a natural center.

He is a spitfire and is tough as nails. Wypler is that bulldog that just won’t quit and is very aggressive. At Ohio State, he played at an elite level as both a run and pass blocker. He can get to the second level with surprising agility when adjusting to moving defenders. Has a mean streak in run blocking.

Yes, by making this one switch, the Browns have strengthened the left tackle spot and weakened the left guard position. But mistakes by a guard are an easier adjustment while the game is going on than blunders by the outside tackle

Browns Roster Resolution #4: “The Odd Squad”

The practice squad is a valuable tool for every NFL club. It allows players to develop and also keeps them in the league. All practice squads allow for each team to protect four players. Most use a quarterback and a kicker as two of their protected athletes. The remainder are available to be picked up by any team 24/7, as long as that player is added to the 53-man roster.

Thayer Munford is already on the Browns’ practice squad. Geron Christian was utilized for nine starts with Cleveland back in the 2023 season and played really well. Some available offensive tackles from other practice squad rosters to consider: