3 Browns Offensive Training Camp Battles to Watch
Training camp is here and that means the NFL season is right around the corner. The Cleveland Browns hope to go from a last-place finish in the AFC North to a playoff team in the AFC.
General manager Andrew Berry looks to have done a fine job upgrading the roster, so it’s time for results to come from it those upgrades.
Cleveland will have multiple position battles going on in training camp. There are questions at backup running back, defensive tackle, and even linebacker to name a few. But today we are going to talk about three different battles to watch out for on the offensive side of the ball.
Fourth wide receiver
David Bell is back for a second year after having a limited role with the Browns as a rookie. Though, with those limited targets, Bell did what he was asked if. Heading into the season it is known that Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and newcomer Elijah Moore will lead the wide receiver room. After that, there are fair questions as to whom steps up.
Bell is the favorite to be the fourth wideout, though much of it will depend on what the Browns want to do on the given package. Cedric Tillman will see the field as a rookie and is the guy that could get those No. 4 snaps. Tillman gives the Browns a big, physical receiver with a large catch radius. He’s unlike any hat the Browns have in the rest of the room.
No matter which player is that fourth guy, the other will have a role. Just because one guy is that player early on, doesn’t mean the other won’t eventually earn more snaps. Both players are young and will grow within this offense.
Backup tight end
David Njoku is the team’s top option at tight end, that is set in stone. Harrison Bryant had his deal re-worked to essentially solidify his spot with the team for 2023, and the Browns went out and signed Jordan Akins at the position. The question in this room is, who will be the backup tight end?
Bryant has held that role in the past but Akins comes in as a player that has a past playing with quarterback Deshaun Watson in Houston. Bryant has yet to eclipse 250 receiving yards with the Browns, his career-high was 239 of them, which was in his third season last year.
Both players are similar in height, though it’s Akins who is about 15 pounds heavier weighing around 245. Njoku is going to handle the majority of the production and Akins may be the next guy.
Bryant is in a contract year, as he will hit free agency next offseason. Perhaps that will give him a little extra motivation in 2023.
Backup center
Nick Harris suffered an unfortunate setback in his career when he went down with a season-ending injury prior to the 2022 season. With that happening, the Browns found some untapped potential bun Ethan Pocic, who is expected to be a backup in Cleveland. Pocic was one of the better centers in football last year and got a decent payday because of it, he’s the guy going forward in Cleveland at center.
After Pocic, there is a battle going on for who will be their backup to him. Harris has seen the field sparingly in his NFL career due to being behind J.C. Tretter for his first couple of seasons. He did get some time at right guard in 2020, but he has always been built like center at the pro level.
Harris is entering his fourth season and will be a free agent following the season, which may make it more enticing for the Browns to move on to their rookie center earlier.
Cleveland drafted Luke Wypler in the sixth round of April’s draft and he will battle for that backup center job along with Harris. Wypler fell in the draft according to the general consensus of draft folks, mainly because of worries about what system he will work in. For his sake, Wypler may have fallen into the perfect spot. Wypler is a guy that will be comfortable in a wide-zone scheme. He is an athletic center who is a mover and can get to the next level. In the end, don’t be surprised if the Browns go with their recent draft pick.
Cleveland will begin practice at The Greenbrier in West Virginia on August 22 and head coach Kevin Stefanski will talk to the media following practice.
Browns football is back and to start things out will be some interesting battles to watch take place early on.
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