Browns Seeking Offensive Tackle Stability in 2024

In 2023, five players started at either right tackle or left tackle for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns have several pre-draft visits scheduled with offensive tackles, signaling that they may want to make some changes headed into the 2024 season.

Sep 10, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars offensive lineman Patrick Paul (76) / Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Under the guidance of offensive line coach Bill Callahan, the Cleveland Browns had established themselves as one of the most physically imposing offensive lines in the NFL since 2020. Even with Callahan leaving Cleveland to join his son's staff in Tennessee, the Browns are still expected to continue a similar type of dominance.

Andy Dickerson, Callahan's replacement as Browns offensive line coach, should not need to worry about the interior of the line with Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic and Wyatt Teller. Those three players are assertive in the run game and usually stable in pass protection. That core also managed to remain on the field for the majority of last season.

The offensive tackle spot on either side of the line was a revolving door in 2023 though. Over the span of 17 regular season games and one postseason game, five separate players spent time on the outside of the line.

Right tackle Jack Conklin was almost an instant loss for the season after being rolled up on by Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals in Week One. The unfortunate but all too familiar loss of Conklin, then paved the way for rookie Dawand Jones.

Jones shockingly slipped to the Browns in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. When called into action in his first NFL game, the hulking rookie offensive tackle known as "Big Thanos" quickly proved why 31 other teams made a mistake by letting him drop to Cleveland at the start of day three of the draft.

Jones not only flashed his elite traits against Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt in Week Two, but he went on to lock down the right side for over half of the season, earning himself PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. Unfortunately for both Jones and the Browns, he began battling his own knee injury which ended his season early. James Hudson III then stepped up and closed out the rest of the year at right tackle.

The left side of the line had its own woes as well. Jedrick Wills Jr. was selected with the tenth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft and has not fully lived up to the hype. He has had his good moments but has never been great. The effort and awareness of Wills has been called into question and last season could have been a redemption opportunity. After only eight games, he was lost to a season ending knee injury.

Cleveland then added Geron Christian to the roster, who admirably filled the role quite well the rest of the season.

The biggest takeaway from the OT injury revolving door should be that the Browns need to either make some changes or remain prepared with excellent tackle depth in 2024.

Conklin and Wills may be running out of time in Cleveland. However, they both are likely remaining with the team in 2024. Cutting Conklin or even trading him this offseason is a tough pill to swallow due to the major cap hit Cleveland would take. The Browns also picked up the fifth-year option for Wills last year, which means that he will be here at least until 2025.

Both of these situations likely rule out major changes, so the thought of trusted depth comes more to light. The front office signed Hakeem Adeniji at the start of free agency and the known offensive tackle pre-draft visits suggests that the Browns might not be done at that position.

Both Kiran Amegadjie of Yale and Patrick Paul of Houston are slated to meet with the Browns prior to this year's draft.

Amegadjie best excels when lined up on the left side of the line. He is fairly explosive and displays raw power in the run game.

Paul is a left tackle with excellent length and size. His wide reach helps him slow down edge rushers and he identifies blitzes quickly. Paul is better in pass protection than as a run blocker.

Despite being different types of tackles, Amegadjie and Paul are my 11th and 12th ranked tackle prospects in this class. They will likely be available in the late second or third round, falling in a range where Cleveland holds the 54th and 85th picks.

Whether the Browns select either of these players or not, the good news for Browns fans is that the front office is clearly preparing for not only 2024 but also 2025 and beyond when Conklin and Wills are likely gone.