BEREA -- The Cleveland Browns made a concerted effort to bolster their offensive line in the first week of the new league year by adding three outside starting offensive linemen. The Browns traded for offensive tackle**Tytus Howard** and then signed free agent guard Zion Johnson and center/guard Elgton Jenkins. Those three are expected to make up three of the five starting offensive line positions.
All three are very versatile after playing multiple positions on the offensive line.
Johnson and Jenkins were introduced to the media on Friday and Jenkins said that Howard played a part in recruiting him to the Browns, who he met at the 2019 Senior Bowl and went through the NFL Draft process before the 2019 NFL Draft. Howard was the 23rd overall pick in the first round of that draft by the Texans, while Jenkins was picked in the second-round (No. 44 overall).
"(Howard) talked to me about coming to the Browns," Jenkins said in a Zoom call on Friday with the local media.
Jenkins made the Pro Bowl as a left guard but has been the Packers starting center the last two seasons. He was asked if the Browns have settled on a position they will play him.
"Keeping an open mind on who are the best starting five (offensive linemen are)," he said. "I told them I want to keep an open mind moving forward. The more guys we got, the better.
"I'm definitely open to playing anything and what's going to help the team."
Jenkins said it's good to have players that can play multiple positions on the offensive line.
Elgton Jenkins (Photo: Getty, 247Sports)
"(We have players) that can play different positions, but obviously, you don't want to play musical chairs and stuff like that," he said. " But you do want guys thatare able to like fill in if a guy goes down or we need a guy this week or and things like that."
Veteran Joel Bitonio has still be reported to possibly returning for a 13th season and Johnson has played at left guard the last three seasons with the Chargers.
Jenkins, 30, signed a two-year contract worth up to $24 million, including $20 million guaranteed. Jenkins was a two-time Pro Bowl performer for the Packers.
Jenkins was asked about his versatility.
"Looking back on it, when I was like 11th grade, I was playing left tackle," he said. "Then my last year, we went to a more run-heavy offense and I was playing guard. When I got to Mississippi State, I started off as left (guard), I was a swing left tackle, right tackle, getting a lot of work in that, and one of my teammates went down, so they put me at guard for a game and I started jelling at that, so I finished that year out at guard.
#Browns Elgton Jenkins made the Pro Bowl twice at guard but thinks he can play at a high level at either position pic.twitter.com/SxN01gZ9zJ
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) March 13, 2026
"My junior and senior year, my coach was said that I know the offense better than everybody or anybody on the O-line," he said. "I've been there (center) what, going on three years, so he wanted me to move to center. I did that and got drafted in the second round, so I've been doing it my whole career."
Jenkins (6-5, 310) is entering his eighth NFL season from Mississippi State. Originally, selected by the Packers in the second round in 2019, Jenkins has appeared in 96 career games with 94 starts. He is a two-time Pro Bowl honoree (2020 and 2022) and helped the Packers lead the league in fewest sacks allowed (203) since 2019. Helped pave the way for 1,000-yard rushers Aaron Jones (2019-20, 2022) and Josh Jacobs (2024). Jenkins has started games at left tackle, left guard, center and right tackle in his career. Last season he started nine games at center in 2025 before suffering a broken leg that sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Johnson said he sees the potential with the Browns moving forward.
"I think the pitch for me was clear," he said. "Looking at the team from the outside in for me, it looked like a team on the rise. There's a lot of pieces. The front office is very hell-bent on improving the offensive line, improving the team as a whole, and my role was just to come in, play whatever position is needed, whether it is left or right, to help the team in any way necessary."
#Browns Zion Johnson sees a lot of potential with the O line overhaul and blocking for Quinshon Judkins pic.twitter.com/IIcIimckVv
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) March 13, 2026
Johnson (6-3, 315) is entering his fifth NFL season from Boston College. Originally a first-round pick by the Chargers in 2022, Johnson has started 65 of his 66 career games. He has started games at both left and right guard in his career. Last season he started 16 games at left guard. In 2022, Johnson was selected to the PFWA All-Rookie team.
Johnson was the Browns first signing of free agency, reportedly signing a deal worth up to $49.5 million with $32.4 million guaranteed over three years.
Johnson, 26, is coming off arguably the best season of his career. He has played both right and left guard in his career. He played right guard as a rookie and then proceeded to play the next three seasons on the left side with the Chargers. Johnson has played 4,493 snaps in his first seasons, while only missing two games due to injury.
Johnson has been projected as a strong run blocker but was asked about his pass blocking.
"I think evident watching the tape, I have a lot of strengths in pass protection watching the tape. I think it's something that I've continuously worked on, year in and year out in my career. I think that's something I've definitely improved on throughout my career."Johnson said running back Quinshon Judkins caught his eye while watching a game last season and is excited to block for him.
Zion Johnson (Photo: Getty, 247Sports)
"I could see the potential and the talent on this team," he said. "From the outside in, this team has a lot of good pieces, a lot of talented players. I just remember during the season I was watching one of the games the Browns were playing and I saw this young running back (Judkins) that just looked electric, and I thought, 'Man, like if I had the opportunity to block for somebody like that, the sky is the limit'.
"Having the opportunity to come here and just seeing the pieces that we have the other veterans that have come in on the offensive line,"I just feel really good about our room and I think that we have the potential to be something very special."