Austin Corbett will have competition to be Cleveland Browns starting RG

Although the Cleveland Browns traded Kevin Zeitler to get Austin Corbett into the starting lineup next season, he will have competition to win the job.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey had a lot of success in his first season with the Browns, adding a bunch of talent to the roster. But mixed into those great decisions were some questionable decisions.

One of those questionable decisions was selecting Austin Corbett with the 33rd overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Because the Browns needed to find Joe Thomas’ replacement at left tackle, it made sense to draft an offensive lineman.

However, the Browns soon realized Corbett did not have the necessary tools to be a starting tackle in the NFL. Instead, they decided to start undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison at tackle instead of Corbett. This forced Corbett to sit on the bench as he was buried on the depth chart behind Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Kevin Zeitler.

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After rarely playing in his rookie season, Corbett will enter training camp competing for the starting right guard job. Cleveland traded last year’s starter, Kevin Zeitler, to the New York Giants for Olivier Vernon to fill the team’s need for an edge rusher.

However, despite the Browns trading Zeitler seemingly to get Corbett into the lineup, he will have some competition for the starting job. Dorsey signed another one of his former players this off-season, signing guard Eric Kush to a one-year deal.

Although the Browns may have planned on bringing Kush in to be the team’s backup guard and center, there is a good chance he will push Corbett during the competition for the starting right guard job.

Kush started seven games for the Chicago Bears last season. But after suffering a neck injury, he was relegated to playing in a reserve role for the rest of the season. But during his time on the field last season, Kush was impressive, especially when pass blocking.

The 29-year-old played 344 snaps in 2018 and allowed only three pressures all season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). In three seasons, Kush has played 696 total snaps and allowed only 10 pressures.

Even though he has not been able to show his talent for an entire season, Kush has given a glimpse of what he can do protecting the quarterback. For the Browns, protecting Baker Mayfield, especially from the interior of the line, is extremely important.

So even though it seems like Corbett will be the team’s starting right guard, it will not be a walk in the park for him during training camp and the preseason. With Kush behind him, Corbett will have to prove he is ready to be a starter in the NFL and earn the starting right guard job.

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