Everything about the Browns’ offensive line is new for 2026 — five new players if left guard Joel Bitonio retires, a new offensive line coach in George Warhop and a new head coach in Todd Monken.
For nit-pickers, Warhop isn’t technically new to the Browns’ coaching staff. He was the offensive line coach in Cleveland from 2009-13 under head coaches Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur and Rob Chudzinski. But he is new as far as the overhauled line in 2026 is concerned.
Having Warhop to lead the way is going to make it easier to jell the group that has never played together before, right tackle Tytus Howard said March 16 during a Zoom conference.
Howard was acquired from the Houston Texans earlier this month in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. Zion Johnson was signed in free agency after four years with the Chargers. Elgton Jenkins was signed in free agency after seven years with the Packers.
Johnson and Jenkins are guards, though Jenkins started nine games at center for the Packers last year until a fractured left fibula in the 10th game ended his 2026 season. He suffered damage to ligaments in his left ankle on the same play and is rehabbing.
General Manager Andrew Berry is expected to find a left tackle in the first round of the draft next month. Center is unresolved unless Luke Wypler, in his fourth year with the Browns (he missed all of 2024 with an ankle injury), holds onto the job after starting the final four games in 2024.
“I’ve experienced it (an offensive line makeover) in Houston a couple times,” said Howard, a first-round draft pick by the Texans in 2019. “I think it can be done. You need good leaders, a great coach, which we do and young guys willing to listen and learn.
“We build that relationship on and off the field. We’re going to jell. I have a lot of confidence in this room, even though I haven’t met everyone. I know what I’m going to bring to the table. I know what El (Jenkins) and Zion are going to bring to the table. I know Coach Warhop is going to bring it every day.”
Howard started eight games as a rookie in 2019 after becoming the first player from Alabama State to be drafted in the first round. He started 14 games in 2020.
Starting on the Texans’ offensive line in 2019 and 2020 meant blocking for Deshaun Watson. Now Howard and Watson are teammates again. Howard hasn’t given up on Watson.
“Those were great experiences,” Howard said. “That first year in 2019, we won a lot of games (10), went to the playoffs and ended up losing in the divisional round to the Chiefs.
“Deshaun made a lot of plays. He’s a great guy off the field. As a quarterback and offensive linemen, we hung out off the field a lot. Deshaun has reached out a couple times.”
The Browns acquired Watson in a trade with the Texans in March of 2022. He and Shedeur Sanders are expected to battle for the starting job this spring and summer. Watson is in the final year of his five-year contract.