Cleveland Browns: Joe Thomas rated as top OT
Pro Football Focus released its rankings for top offensive tackles and a member of the Cleveland Browns found himself at the top of the list.
The Cleveland Browns have not had a winning season since 2007, and that does not look to be changing in 2016.
But while the Browns have had a steady streak of disappointing seasons, there has been one constant symbol of success. That constant is offensive tackle Joe Thomas.
Pro Football Focus released its offensive tackle rankings, and Thomas found himself at the top.
Top-graded OTs in 2015:
— PFF (@PFF) June 10, 2016
1. Joe Thomas, @Browns
2. Tyron Smith, @dallascowboys
3. Terron Armstead, @Saints
4. Andrew Whitworth, @Bengals
This honor should be no surprise for anyone who follows the Browns, as Thomas has never missed a snap in his nine-year career. That an insane fact when put in perspective.
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Thomas’ presence on the field is one of the reasons the Browns seem to pull of one or two miraculous wins a season, or why a player like Josh McCown was able to set a franchise record for passing yards in a game (457) last season. If the left tackle position had as much turnover as the rest of the roster, the offense would struggle to score any points at all.
The ranking also shows the value Thomas still holds, which means he is still valuable in a trade. A contender would easily give up draft picks and even a great player to acquire Thomas. This is great from a rebuilding perspective, but getting rid of Thomas would dismantle the foundation more than it would contribute to its rise.
The Browns need to keep Thomas on the team to serve as the anchor of this new-look offensive line, and also to protect Robert Griffin III or whoever is the quarterback in 2016.
With the franchise selecting so many players who turned out to be busts, having Thomas contribute so much to the team is a bright spot for the team and gives fans hope of what the 2016 draft picks can become.