One thing is a constant with the Cleveland Browns: their offensive line will end up in shambles at some point.
Last season, Cleveland’s O-Line issues began early. The Browns ended up starting eight different offensive line combinations, including seven in the first eight games.
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In the Week 1 home game against the Dallas Cowboys, there was a lot of optimism in the air as Cleveland had won 11 games the year before, was the highest Wild Card seed, and had played in a playoff game. QB Deshaun Watson was expected back, and the majority of the offense was returning.
But against the Cowboys, who had gone 12-4-0 three seasons in a row, the offense was horrible with just 54 yards in the first half and a mere three points. What was supposed to be an Air Raid-style attack with receivers Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Jerry Jeudy ended up being eight catches total all game for the trio for a mere 50 yards. Ouch.
Cleveland Browns v Seattle Seahawks OT Dawand Jones
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Both RT Jack Conklin (6’-6”, 308 pounds) and LT Jed Wills weren’t ready to start on opening day, so Dawand Jones (6’-8”, 374 pounds) filled in on the right side while RT James Hudson was switched and played on the left side. Neither player handled stunts or a quick outside step. Jones had multiple penalties while Hudson had the use of a tight end to help block for most of the contest. Seven Cowboys defenders had almost double-digit pressures along with six sacks, and it began at the tackle position.
For 2024, while the center position had issues with their backup players, starter Ethan Pocic only missed one game. LG Joel Bitonio played every game while RG Wyatt Teller missed four. So, the interior of the Browns’ offensive line was pretty durable.
But the offensive tackle spot? A lot of bodies and quite a few different jersey nameplates that were stitched, such as Sebastian Gutierrez, Ricky Lee, Kellen Diesch, Justin Murray, Leroy Watson IV, and Chim Okorafor.
Browns GM Andrew Berry had attempted to bring in some experienced talent during the 2024 off-season with players like Hakeem Adeniji and Germain Ifedi, who had played in 43 NFL games and 117 contests, respectively. But the injury bug hit Adeniji towards the end of training camp as he suffered a knee injury during the second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings and was placed on season-ending IR. Ifedi played some before being named the starter from Week 9 until the end of the season.
A constant flow of offensive tackles arrived at the Berea practice facility and either started, became a backup, transitioned to the practice squad, were cut, or were placed on IR. In all, six Browns offensive linemen found IR their home, with four listed as a tackle.
Having gone through the attrition of losing players in this position group for the past three seasons, Berry was once again faced with what to do with the offensive tackle group going forward into 2025.
Wills wasn’t re-signed while Hudson found employment with the New York Football Giants. Adeniji healed and is now with Dallas.
In free agency, Berry inked veteran Cornelius Lucas (6’-9”, 325 pounds), who will turn 34 years old this summer.
What is the plan for this season? Is the offensive line room set, especially the tackle position?
Conklin had signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension in 2022. He and the Browns agreed on a contract restructure this past March, which removed a year from that previous deal. He is scheduled to start at right tackle.
Jones has been penciled in at left tackle. But he had a fractured fibula in Week 11 last year and in February underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, which was viewed as corrective measures with an issue that bothered him throughout the 2024 season. While the ankle has healed, this knee rehab is ongoing.
Since last season, offensive line coach Andy Dickerson was released, and Mike Bloomgren was hired to take his place.
There is speculation that Jones will be ready for training camp, but that happened last year with Wills as the days became weeks of not being able to suit up. Jones is currently working out in the voluntary offseason program.
If both Jones and Conklin are on the field in the Week 1 home game against division foe Cincinnati Bengals, that would be something to celebrate.
But is it short-lived?
Jones will be entering his third season. He has been injured and missed games in both NFL seasons since being drafted. In his rookie campaign, he started nine games before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Then last season’s injury. This equates that Jones is susceptible to being hurt. Two years and two injuries.
On the opposite side, Conklin is a snap away from yet another injury.
Since coming to Cleveland, he has experienced the following: 2020 – COVID; 2021 - elbow injury (IR), right knee injury (IR); 2023 - torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus tear (IR); and 2024 – hamstring. While with the Tennessee Titans, he tore his ACL in just his second season, suffered a concussion, and later had another knee injury.
When he plays, Conklin is one of the league’s best. But in all, Conklin has missed 35 games while a member of the Browns.
It appears that Berry has placed all of his eggs into the basket of both Conklin and Jones. Why this assessment? Look at the roster behind them.
Despite Jones coming off an injury and Conklin having a long injury history, Lucas was the only offensive tackle signed during free agency. At the same time, Berry did not select a single tackle in the NFL draft.
Cleveland Browns v Seattle Seahawks OT Lorenzo Thompson
Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images
The other backups that are currently under contract were mainly practice squad participants from last season and signed to reserve/futures contracts in January: RT Roy Mbaeteka (6’-8”, 330 pounds), LT Lorenzo Thompson (6’-6”, 305 pounds), and LT Julian Pearl (6’-6”, 325 pounds). In addition, undrafted rookie free agent Jason Ivey (6’-5”, 300 pounds) of North Carolina A&T was signed shortly after the draft.
Mbaeteka is an international player and has not seen the field yet, other than preseason games. Pearl and Thompson are in the same boat. So, going into training camp, the Browns have four offensive tackles who have zero NFL experience in regular-season games.
That leaves Lucas.
Cleveland is his sixth NFL club. He does have experience, having played in 129 NFL games with 54 starts. But he has never been considered “a starting tackle.” The most starts he had were in 2022 with the Washington Commanders, in which he started 12 of 17 games. Last season with Washington, he had only one game in which he played every offensive snap and another eight contests where he played more than 50% of the reps with the offense.
Lucas has also had several feuds with members of the media when his position was referred to as “a big hole on the left side.”
What does all this mean for the offensive tackle position?
Cornelius Lucas was solid last year. There is no big hole there.
— CMargaritez (@CMargaritez) May 10, 2021
Conklin and Jones are ultra-injury-prone. Lucas is a mid-30s journeyman who has never been a full-time starter. What’s left is four inexperienced young dudes vying for a roster spot.
Hmmm……
Does anyone see a potential problem?
It is known that Bitonio can play tackle and has in the past on the left side while last year’s rookie guard Zak Zinter has played tackle in high school. But why would a team pull the steadiness of a seven-time Pro Bowler, which creates a new problem?
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As a Browns fan, does this group look good to you?
There are some free-agent offensive tackles that remain unsigned. Many are former Browns: Wills, Ifedi, Chris Hubbard, Adeniji, and Geron Christian. The best remaining include Andrus Peat, David Quessenberry, and Isaiah Wynn. This list has been picked over for obvious reasons.
Washington Commanders v Cleveland Browns OT Cornelius Lucas
Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
Injuries were prominent in the trenches for Cleveland’s offense last season. This became a huge role in the team’s all-around struggles on the offensive side of the ball. The Browns had the lowest-scoring offense in the NFL and averaged just 15.2 points per game while allowing 66 sacks, the second most.
The Browns’ offensive line may be full of Pro Bowl athletes, but it is one (or two) missteps from becoming a crippled unit. Are we the only ones who have noticed this?
The Browns’ 2025 offense will only go as far as the offensive line will take them.