Cleveland Browns: 2016 depth chart predictions

Second-year player Cameron Erving will be the starting center in 2016. Fans may cringe when hearing his name after watching him play last season, but it was clear he was playing out of position.

Erving was drafted to play center and clearly was unable to hold his own at the other positions along the line. But he has come out and said he has gained weight, which should be a good first step in helping him be a suitable replacement for Alex Mack.

The position has no clear backup for Erving, with right guard John Greco being the emergency replacement. Erving is being trusted with the role in 2016, but an injury can serve to dismantle a relatively well-constructed offensive line.

Greco would have to slide over to the center position, while rookie Spencer Drango would have to slide into the right guard spot, which he is expected to overtake sometime in the near future.

For now, Erving is the center and will have a chance to prove himself to the new coaching staff. If he struggles like he did last season, expect the Browns to draft a center early on in the 2017 draft. Fans are used to the consistent play of Mack, so lackluster performances by Erving will not be tolerated. But he has the benefit of having Greco as an emergency backup, so it will take a lot to remove Erving from the starting role in 2016.

Next: The Right Guards