Cleveland Browns: Offensive Line cuts Perplexing

The Cleveland Browns reduced their roster to the mandatory 53 players. But they kept 10 offensive linemen including three centers. Are more moves on the horizon?

The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line cuts and retention indicate that more moves may be coming. How else does one explain keeping three natural centers, two backup tackles (one of which is injured) and one backup guard.

The Browns announced their 53-man roster on Saturday and made a few more moves today. Here is a list of the offensive players on the roster.

"Offense (27)Quarterbacks (4): DeShone Kizer, Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan, Josh Woodrum; running backs (3): Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson Jr., Matthew Dayes; fullback (1): Danny Vitale; wide receivers (6): Kenny Britt, Corey Coleman, Sammie Coates, Ricardo Louis, Reggie Davis, Kasen Williams; tight ends (3): Randall Telfer, Seth DeValve, David Njoku; offensive linemen (10): Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Kevin Zeitler, Shon Coleman, Rod Johnson, Marcus Martin, Spencer Drango, Austin Reiter, Zach Sterup"

Of interest is the fact that the Browns kept ten offensive linemen. Teams generally keep eight offensive linemen. Keeping ten is an indication they are concerned about current injuries and future potential injuries.

Tackle is both a no-brainer and a head-scratcher for this group. Obviously, the Browns kept projected starters Joe Thomas and Shon Coleman. They kept the ever-improving Rod Johnson to develop. Given Johnson’s recent knee injury, it made sense to keep a backup tackle in Zach Sterup.

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The backup tackle position is one that could see some movement. Sterup does not seem destined to stay on the team long given his performance in Chicago. With former Bengal Eric Winston on the market, are the Browns looking to add a veteran backup while Johnson develops? Such a move would make sense.

The guard position is the most confusing. With Joel Bitonio’s injury history, how do the Browns only retain one natural backup guard?

Bitonio and Kevin Zeitler are on the roster. Backing them up is Spencer Drango a natural guard who has never played center. Injury history should have the Browns on the look out to add another guard to this roster who can play center as well.

Center is the most understandable of the final roster cuts, but still perplexing. The Browns kept three natural centers on the roster. JC Tretter as the starter. He will be backed up by both Marcus Martin and Austin Reiter. Tretter’s injury history merits at least one backup natural center who can play guard. But keeping two backup natural centers both with little experience at guard is a stretch.

The moves leave the Browns with ten offensive linemen. The Browns could go heavy on offensive line given injury history. But keeping two backup centers and one guard implies that the Browns are in the market for a backup guard and one of the two centers will go.

Next: Osweiler's odd time in Cleveland

The next few days will be interesting. Expect to see the Browns make more moves at offensive line before Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.