{"id":816736,"date":"2026-03-17T09:15:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/816736\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T09:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:15:16","slug":"browns-remake-of-offensive-line-is-only-three-fifths-complete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/816736\/","title":{"rendered":"Browns\u2019 remake of offensive line is only three-fifths complete"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dawand<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Dawand Jones once was considered the left tackle of the future. But three season-ending injuries in three years make him a risky bet to solve the puzzle there.<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.<\/p>\n

Takeaways from the Browns\u2019 offensive line rebuild project \u2026<\/p>\n

1. The three new additions to the offensive line \u2013 guards Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and right tackle Tytus Howard \u2013 each has been introduced to media via video conference. They all repped themselves well and sounded genuinely excited about their new opportunities. That said, the ongoing rebuild of the starting O-line is far from complete and GM Andrew Berry\u2019s process has raised a few questions.<\/p>\n

2. Jenkins (left) and Johnson (right) figure to be the new starting guards, and Howard the right tackle. That leaves left tackle and center \u2013 perhaps the two most important positions \u2013 to be addressed. Let\u2019s delve into what\u2019s going on with those two positions.<\/p>\n

3. All along, the two most obvious targets for the Browns at left tackle appeared to be Green Bay free agent Rasheed Walker and Georgia prospect Monroe Freeling. Walker, who started 48 games at left tackle for the Packers the past three years, was projected by Spotrac.com to command a $20 million-a-year contract. I doubted the Browns would bite on a deal that large. But it turned out the market never materialized for Walker, and he agreed to a one-year \u201cprove it\u201d deal with the Panters reportedly for $6 million, maxing out at $10 million. I wonder why the Browns wouldn\u2019t be interested at that price. That way, they could conceivably pencil in Walker as the immediate starter and still draft Freeling, and ease him in when ready. While Freeling is considered an athletic specimen and potential long-term starter in the NFL, his one season as a starter at Georgia and reported performance shortcomings at the NFL Combine make him \u201ca reach\u201d to draft at No. 6 overall and push him into the lineup immediately. Double-dipping at the position would seem a prudent move. So why didn\u2019t the Browns attempt it?<\/p>\n

4. By all accounts, Walker picked a bad year to have a bad year. His grades computed by ProFootballFocus plummeted, his sacks and pressures allowed were up, as were his penalties. Walker\u2019s play in a 31-27 loss to the Bears in the wild card round was not good and probably sealed his exit from the Packers, who always have a succession plan in place on the offensive line. Walker also is facing a court date this month stemming from a gun charge in January. He reportedly attempted to check an unlicensed firearm at New York\u2019s LaGuardia Airport. His attorney told ESPN that he is \u201cconfident the matter will be resolved favorably.\u201d Even so, Walker could be subjected to a suspension under NFL personal conduct policy. If the matter is not resolved favorably, the Browns made a good decision on passing on Walker. If Walker\u2019s arrest was simply a \u201cmisunderstanding,\u201d however, I contend a double dip of Walker and Freeling would be a good way to address the position for the short- and long-term.<\/p>\n

4. Now, the Browns could still deploy an \u201cease in\u201d strategy with Freeling and Dawand Jones serving as the immediate starter. But only if they still see Jones as a bona fide left tackle. Jones opened the 2025 season at left tackle, then was moved back to right tackle in Game 3, during which Jones suffered a torn LCL and hamstring avulsion. It was the third season-ending injury in three years for the big guy. At the NFL Combine, Berry said of Jones, \u201cHe’s right on track [on his rehab] and I would expect him to factor in [the remake of the offensive line].\u201d There\u2019s an obvious risk in banking on Jones from staying healthy for the first time in four seasons. But at least there\u2019s no big money involved.<\/p>\n

5. There are two left tackles other than Freeling to consider in the first round. One is Kadyn Proctor, a 6-7, 352-pound behemoth from Alabama, and Caleb Lomu of Utah, who is 40 pounds lighter and more agile, but not as strong. Both are projected to go off the board much closer to No. 24 than No. 6. If either is to Berry\u2019s liking, the GM could devote the No. 6 pick to a receiver, such as Ohio State\u2019s Carnell Lake, and take the left tackle at No. 24.<\/p>\n

6. Berry\u2019s lack of action at the center position is equally as baffling as the inaction at left tackle. Luke Wypler has been considered the heir-apparent at center since he was taken in the sixth round of the 2023 draft out of Ohio State. He started one game in place of incumbent Ethan Pocic his rookie year, then missed all of 2024 after suffering a broken ankle in the first preseason game. In 2025, Wypler took over as starting center in Game 14 after Pocic suffered a torn Achilles. Then, a knee injury in the final game made it another offseason of injury rehab for Wypler. At the Combine, Berry wouldn\u2019t even confirm if Wypler had surgery, saying, lamely, \u201cI can’t remember at this very moment, but he’ll be ready to go [in 2026].\u201d But can the Browns count on Wypler being the starting center after two major injuries in three years? Which brings up Zak Zinter. The 2024 third-round draft pick from Michigan, who was drafted as a right guard, replaced Wypler at center in Game 17 in Cincinnati without incident, raising hopes, perhaps, as a candidate at center. Zinter had 11 \u201chealthy scratches\u201d in 2025 \u2013 made inactive with no injury status. Who knows? His role could be redefined by new offensive line coach George Warhop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dawand Jones once was considered the left tackle of the future. But three season-ending injuries in three years…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":816737,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2026],"tags":[7],"class_list":{"0":"post-816736","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116243761702995316","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=816736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/816737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=816736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=816736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=816736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}