​The Cleveland Browns entered the offseason intent on rebuilding their offensive line after a disastrous 2025 campaign. With Wyatt Teller departing via free agency, Joel Bitonio having retired, and Ethan Pocic and Jack Conklin remaining on the market, Cleveland faced a clear need to retool up front. The club has several options at tackle and is banking on a combination of rookie Spencer Fano and the guidance of new offensive line coach George Warhop to deliver a meaningful uplift. As usual, our founder Chris Pokorny will deliver comprehensive training camp previews for Cleveland’s roster, and we’re continuing our quick looks at the Browns’ depth chart, following our prior reviews of the running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers. Today, we focus on the fresh faces and new possibilities along the offensive line.
Tackles for consideration include Spencer Fano, Austin Barber, and Izavion Miller, while the guard and center positions feature a mix of familiar names and potential sleepers. The best-case scenario envisions Fano and Howard locking down the bookends at tackle, with a solid trio on the interior built from E. Jenkins, T. Jenkins, Brailsford, and Leveston. In this optimistic frame, Cleveland would solidify its line from tackle to guard, giving the quarterback time to operate and the run game a chance to regain its footing. Yet even with these upgrades, the line still contains significant questions. Achieving what one might call Year 1 parity—if not full ascendancy into the upper half of the league—would be a realistic target, but anything beyond that would be a notable surprise for a first-year unit.
The worst-case scenario paints a bleaker picture: Fano struggles with the left tackle spot, there’s a reason Howard could be had for a fifth-round pick, and the interior trio proves ineffective. Johnson has yet to rediscover his form after a disappointing stint in San Diego, while Jenkins has battled inconsistency and Elgton’s injury history looms large. Brailsford’s Day 3 selection was partly due to size concerns, highlighting the fragility of a line built around potential over proven reliability. After all, an offense is only as strong as its weakest link, and all five presumed starters carry a case to be that weak point in 2026. Any plan that relies on Jones remaining healthy for the full season would further complicate the worst-case outlook.
Comparing improvements to 2025, the verdict leans toward improvement, though the degree remains unclear. Almost any enhancement would mark progress over last season’s dysfunction, but there are real doubts about the Browns’ availability of veteran options like Howard, Johnson, and both Jenkinses in a league that currently lacks sufficient high-quality offensive line depth. It’s possible Cleveland’s line could still finish in the bottom third of the NFL next year, or it could coalesce into something approaching a Top-10 unit. Either outcome would constitute a meaningful upgrade over 2025, even if the ceiling remains uncertain.
What do you see when you evaluate the Browns’ O-line room? Is there a depth-chart addition you’d like to see as training camp unfolds? Share your thoughts in the comments below to spark discussion and help inform ongoing coverage.