The offensive line makeover is underway for the Cleveland Browns, following Tuesday trade with the Houston Texans to bring back right tackle Tytus Howard in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations Andrew Berry referenced the Chicago Bears recent o-line overhaul as a vision at the NFL Combine last week. Last offseason, Chicago used a series of trades and free agent signings to fill out their offensive line around several recent draft picks.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBerry's trade for Howard is part one of the Browns attempting something similar. Howard only represents one of the five potential starting spots along Cleveland's offensive front, though.
Here's what could be coming next.
Decision Time For JoelThe next major domino that has to fall in the Browns' building of an O-line is 12-year veteran Joel Bitonio deciding whether or not it's officially time to hang them up.
Recently, the Browns tweaked some language in Bitonio's contract to buy him more time to make this monumental decision. The clock is ticking, though, as the longest tenured member of the franchise has until March 10 (one day before free agency begins) to choose his fate.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIf he retires, Berry and company get some much-needed clarity regarding whether or not there's another spot to fill along the o-line. Conversely, if he returns, team brass will know they have some valuable experience and stability returning up front, granted he is due to be a free agent so they'll have to figure out a new contract for the two-time first-team All-Pro.
Free Agent FrenzyJoel's decision will set in motion whatever the Browns plans are to address their holes along the trenches. If he's back, it's one less spot to worry about. It's safe to assume that Cleveland will use some of its financial resources to add to the group. Just how much is the question, though.
At some point before free agency opens up on March 11, Berry will restructure Deshaun Watson's contract, converting most of his $46 million base salary into signing bonus and spreading it over the void years that remain on the deal.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDoing the same with Denzel Ward's $16.9 million base salary will give the Browns a modest amount of cap space to use on the open market. Berry speculated that they'll be able to be "more aggressive" in free agency than they were in 2025, but that they'd need to be thoughtful in the moves that they do make.
Cleveland may have one big splash move in them. Perhaps that's chasing after Baltimore Ravens free agent Tyler Linderbaum. Maybe it's signing Green Bay Packers tackle Rasheed Walker. If Bitonio isn't back, maybe it's more of a combination of marginal moves.
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnybody Home Grown?With or without Bitonio, the Browns will have to survey the current roster and decide if there's anyone they believe can fill a starting role along the o-line next season.
Luke Wypler is a 2023 sixth-round pick, who has shown some promise at times manning the center spot. He did suffer a knee injury in the team's season finale, but Berry noted at the NFL Combine that he anticipates Wypler being in the mix.
There's Dawand Jones, a 2023 fourth-round pick, who has had some flashes at both right and left tackle, but not consistently enough for the Browns to know if he can be a reliable starter. Each of his first three seasons have come to an untimely end due to injuries as well.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere's also Zak Zinter. A 2024 third-rounder, who spent most Sundays as a healthy scratch this past season. Do the Browns believe he'll ever develop into the starter they hoped?
Veteran guard Teven Jenkins wound up in a rotation with Teller down the stretch of the season and seemed to provide some stability. Like most of the Browns starters from 2025, he's a free agent to be, but bringing him back could certainly be in the cards.
If Berry and head coach Todd Monken see any of those guys as starters next season, it could fill another void up front for Cleveland.
Draft And DevelopThen there's the draft. It seems inevitable that the Browns will use one of their premier picks on an offensive lineman. Adding young players who can become cornerstones in the trenches will be key to this team's offensive rebuild.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe assumption right now, at least, is that with two first-round picks, at least one will be used on an o-lineman. I'd bet Cleveland uses multiple picks on the offensive line in Pittsburgh next month.
Berry's track record when it comes to drafting o-lineman isn't pretty. Jed Willis, who represents the first pick he ever made as Browns GM, wasn't even playing football this past year. But there's no time like the present to take multiple bites at that apple, even if it's simply to build up some depth at the most important positions in football.
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