Assessing Browns Offensive Line Ahead of Cutdown Day
Coach Callahan and this Cleveland offensive line have been working hard this offseason to make sure that the new offensive transition goes smoothly. There have been a few interesting changes made to this year's unit, and it's important to assess how those changes have ultimately panned out in training camp.
It's widely known that the Browns have one of the better offensive lines in the league, and that's not limited to the talent of the starting five guys. They consistently manage to put together solid depth behind those starters to the point where they usually don't miss a beat offensively if an injury occurs. A big part of this is due to the team's successful track record when it comes to drafting and developing quality players.
Rookies Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler both look like steals relative to where they were selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. They both show a good level of comfort and technical prowess that you wouldn't expect from mid-to-late round rookie offensive linemen. Jones' length and gargantuan size make it hard for edge rushers to get their hands on him and perform pass rush moves effectively. Wypler has displayed his above average mobility for the position on multiple occasions throughout the offseason, as well as his ability to adjust and make line calls when on the ball.
Cleveland kept ten offensive linemen in 2022 and that should be the case this season as well. It makes the most sense to keep ten players at a premium position, especially when they have at least that many players who can come in and contribute quality snaps whenever they're called upon.
OC Ethan Pocic
Pocic has been having a great offseason so far and appears to be picking up where he left off in 2022. It's hard to believe, but Pocic could actually be better in 2023 based on the style of offense and how it relates to his play style.
He's a tall, hulking center that's ideal for pass protection in a shotgun-style offense. Both Nick Harris and Luke Wypler are slightly smaller, more mobile guys who are better movers in open space compared to Pocic.
OC Nick Harris
Harris seems to have bounced back fairly well from his knee injury. He's been the top backup at center throughout the entire offseason and has played well in the preseason. The rumors heading into the 2022 season about him adding more strength seem to be true as well. He's been able to anchor more effectively in pass protection, and had some great reps against Jalen Carter in the Philadelphia game.
Though he's been working as the backup center, there's a world where the team finds value in Luke Wypler being the backup center and choosing to cut Harris to create an extra $920,000.00 in cap space. Doing this would also allow the team to keep another versatile lineman like Drew Forbes.
OC Luke Wypler
Wypler looks like a sixth round steal as of right now. He's played mostly center so far, but has taken reps at guard as well to display his versatility. He's shown the ability to sink his hips and anchor against bull-rushers at both spots. Wypler has also displayed his athleticism throughout the preseason by making crucial blocks on screen passes, as well as downfield when he's uncovered in zone runs.
OG Joel Bitonio
Joel Bitonio is and most likely always will be a stalwart on the Cleveland offensive line. There's no reason to worry about his performance during the offseason.
OG Wyatt Teller
Similar to Bitonio, there's not much to discuss with Teller. He's one of the stalwarts on the interior of the offensive line and continues to play at an above-average level.
Teller did however have an "off" year in 2022 compared to his two previous seasons. It's hard to tell why, but he did have a nagging calf injury so it's possible that had something to do with it.
OG Michael Dunn
Dunn has proven to be the top depth option on the interior of this offensive line. He plays well whenever he's on the field and can play all three interior positions. Re-signing Dunn in April was an excellent move by the Browns.
OG Drew Forbes
Forbes has been a fairly solid player when healthy for Cleveland. His most important and attractive quality is that he can legitimately play both tackle and guard in a pinch. Though he's been an "okay" player when on the field, he's still somebody who could be considered on the "roster bubble" heading into the regular season. It's also worth noting that Forbes is currently dealing with a back injury that he suffered in camp.
OG Colby Gossett
Gossett has quietly been a pretty solid player in camp as well. He's been rotating between left and right guard and contributes quality reps when called upon in team situations. He has unsurprisingly been getting a good amount of work with the second and third-team offense. Gossett would be a welcomed addition to Cleveland's practice squad.
OG Wes Martin
Martin has been underwhelming in Cleveland since arriving in March. It's growing more and more apparent that Martin was just added as a camp body. He did show some potential with good reps against Philadelphia, but he doesn't have a realistic shot at making this 2023 roster.
OT Jack Conklin
Jack Conklin is an All-Pro offensive tackle when he's healthy. Unfortunately, that has been his problem since the 2021 season. Hopefully this season will be different for Conklin, and he plays all 17 games. He's currently in concussion protocol, but all signs point to him being ready to go for week 1.
OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
Jedrick Wills is having a typical Jedrick Wills offseason. He's looked fairly good in practice and overall but still has plays where he looks lazy. Wills needs to do a better job of finishing blocks and showing better awareness when blocking downfield.
OT Dawand Jones
Dawand Jones has been one of the hottest topics of the 2023 offseason, and for good reason. He's an absolute tank and has been a standout at right tackle throughout the entirety of his three months in Cleveland. He knows exactly how to use his size and length to his advantage when dealing with smaller speed rushers, as well as how to sink his hips and anchor against power rushers. He should develop into a dependable right tackle for Cleveland for the foreseeable future.
OT James Hudson III
Hudson has been such a whirlwind of both excitement and disappointment during his time in Cleveland so far, and it appears that the 2023 season will be no different. He's capable of being a quality NFL swing tackle, but needs to show more consistency on a game-to-game basis. He'll have some practices and games where he displays the requisite technique, footspeed, and body control to contribute more regularly for Cleveland, but then will look completely lost in others.
The physical tools are undoubtedly there, but the psychological aspect of being an NFL offensive lineman might not be. Cleveland will most likely give him one more chance to take a step in the right direction this season, but if not, it wouldn't be surprising to see them move on from him heading into 2024.
OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Wheatley was kept on the practice squad for the entirety of the 2022 season because of his potential and physical tools. He's played quite a bit throughout the first two preseason games, and has looked excellent. His footspeed and ability to consistently mirror edge rushers have been causing him to stand out throughout training camp and in the preseason. He's suddenly pushing for a depth spot on the active roster.
OT Derrick Kelly II
Kelly hasn't been in Berea for long, and he's sort of been hot and cold during camp. He played a decent amount of snaps against Philadelphia at both left and right tackle, but isn't really a legitimate option for anything besides the practice squad right now.
If the regular season started tomorrow, here are the ten guys that would make the most sense to keep based on performance and contract situation.
Offensive Tackles (4)
Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin, James Hudson III, Dawand Jones
Offensive Guards/ Centers (6)
Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic, Michael Dunn, Nick Harris, Luke Wypler
Practice Squad (3-4)
Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Drew Forbes, Colby Gossett
