The Cleveland Browns decided they needed a full reset.
Their offensive line in 2026 is going to look nothing like it did in 2025. Will that be enough to help Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson succeed? That’s much less clear, but the Browns at least tried something.
ESPN’s Ben Solak ranks Cleveland offensive line changes as the fifth-biggest position upgrade of the entire offseason across the NFL.
Five main pieces are gone: Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Wyatt Teller, Ethan Pocic and Cam Robinson.
“Five of the six leading snap-getters from last season are no longer with the team, and three of them (Bitonio, Teller and Pocic) were multiyear starters,” Solak writes. “It’s tough to measure just how poorly that interior trio played, as the carousel at both tackle spots hamstrung the entire unit. But the Browns were 31st in adjusted line yards (according to FTN Fantasy), 20th in pass block win rate, 24th in run block win rate and 32nd in quick pressure rate surrendered. It was comfortably a poor unit.”
MORE: Jason Kelce says the NFL is ruining its most valuable asset
The five main players coming aboard are Spencer Fano, Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins, Zion Johnson and Austin Barber.
Nothing is guaranteed as far as success is concerned, but the Browns definitely look different up front.
“There isn’t one individual move here that blows me away as a clear upgrade,” Solak writes. “We’ve seen worryingly poor play from Jenkins, Howard and Johnson in recent stretches — that’s why they were available. But collectively, the infusion of new blood makes it likelier the Browns hit big on at least one acquisition. Say Fano is a lights-out rookie tackle, or Johnson sees the light bulb turn on in a new ZIP code. Just two plus starters would move the needle considerably from last season to this season.”
The Browns may wind up drafting a first-round QB in 2027, no matter how this season goes, and that’s another reason to start to move the offensive line in a younger and better direction. Sticking with the declining veterans too long wouldn’t have made sense in that context, either.
It’ll be worth watching throughout the summer to see how these big fellas gel, assuming they stay healthy. It’s a crucial narrative toward the Browns’ successes or failures this season.