Jack Conklin earned All-Pro honors as a right tackle for the Tennessee Titans. He’s played right tackle his entire NFL career. So when the Cleveland Browns forked over $42 million to sign Conklin as a free agent, it seemed pretty certain the team would keep him at his natural position.
However, the Browns still don’t have a viable starting left tackle on the roster. In addition, two of the top tackle prospects under presumptive consideration at No. 10 overall, Jedrick Wills and Tristan Wirfs, played right tackle in college. Could new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski choose to move Conklin to the left side to accommodate the team?
Stefanski snuffed out that idea in his conference call with reporters on Thursday.
The question was phrased precisely to avoid any ambiguity. Will Conklin 100 percent be playing right tackle?
Stefanski did not hesitate with his answer.
“I would say that is the plan right now, yes.”
There’s a little wiggle room in Stefanski’s answer. He gave himself an out, but that is just a smart coach making sure he doesn’t paint himself into a corner. Conklin will be the right tackle in Cleveland.
