For years, the best thing about the Cleveland Browns football team on the field was the offensive line. While there are still some quality pieces, the overall talent level has dropped considerably with Joe Thomas’ retirement before last season and this spring’s trade of Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants.
The attrition leaves behind a group that ranks 20th overall entering the 2019 season, per Pro Football Focus. PFF broke down the projected starting offensive line of all 32 teams, and the Browns are at the bottom of the middle third.
The projection includes Austin Corbett replacing Zeitler at right guard, though throughout the OTAs and minicamp Corbett was predominately JC Tretter’s backup at center. Kyle Kalis and Eric Kush are also in the mix, but that likely won’t help augment the projection much.
Cleveland’s interior offensive line was the major reason why the line was widely touted as one of the league’s best in 2018, but the front now looks much different after shipping Kevin Zeitler to New York in exchange for Odell Beckham and Olivier Vernon. Second-year guard Austin Corbett, who has logged just 14 NFL snaps, will step in alongside right tackle Chris Hubbard. The Browns’ offense is now lightyears better following an exciting offseason, but it will be intriguing to see how the offensive line fares given their losses.
Our take
Hubbard at right tackle and Greg Robinson on the left side make for one of the biggest potential pitfalls for the Browns, who have loaded up on skill position talent at the line’s expense. At least Tretter in the pivot and left guard Joel Bitonio are both above-average starters. Kush and rookie Drew Forbes do have some upside to elevate the unit.
