The Offensive Line is Upgraded

If the Browns want to run Kevin Stefanski’s downhill running, play-action happy offense, it’ll start with the guys on the offensive line. Last year, that line was one of their biggest issues– and one of the worst in the league. 

The raw sack numbers won’t look bad in the box score (13th in sack percentage allowed at 7.1%, 17th in total sacks allowed at 41), but watching the tape, it’s clear that it affected the offense in a negative way. And digging a little deeper into the box score, looking at Mayfield’s 21 interceptions (second-most in the league behind only turnover-prone Jameis Winston), it’s fair to say a good deal of those poor throws came from Baker getting panicked over the pressure.

But Cleveland spent a heavy premium to remedy that issue on the offensive line. Not only did the Browns spend their first-round pick on Alabama’s star tackle Jedrick Wills Jr, but they also handed a pretty penny to former Titans right tackle Jack Conklin in order to get him on the team. In just one offseason, Cleveland brought in both of their bookend tackles for the future.

And joining Wills and Conklin will be a solid interior line that helped Nick Chubb to as much success as he had last season. J.C. Tretter has been one of the better centers in the league, and left guard Joel Bitonio has perhaps been even better. Expect Chubb to get even better running lanes in 2020 in addition to more carries, as well as more time for Baker Mayfield to run the offense.