5 Positions Cleveland Browns still need to improve

4. Right Guard

Looking on the bright side, there are options for the Browns at right guard, which wasn’t really the case at this time last season. After trading away Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants for Olivier Vernon, Cleveland was hoping to turn to Austin Corbett. That didn’t happen as the No. 33 overall pick from 2018 was unable to hold the job and ended the season with the Los Angeles Rams.

Once he was taken out of the running, it was Eric Kush who got a chance. Before long, Wyatt Teller — who was added just before the season in trade with the Buffalo Bills — was lining up with the starters. Teller was the best of the trio, but that was by default more than anything.

Looking ahead to this season, Teller looks to be the guy once again — although he could have some competition. Drew Forbes, a collegiate offensive tackle, spent the majority of his rookie season on the IR, but is healthy now and will compete for the starting job at right guard.

Should one of them impress, there’s a chance Cleveland could have things figured out. With how things transpired last season, they shouldn’t go into the season just expecting one of them to wow the coaching staff.

Instead, they need to continue to look for talent. The draft is an option, although an early-round pick isn’t necessary. Players such as Damien Lewis from LSU, Shane Lemieux from Oregon, or Solomon Kindley from Georgia could be late day two or early day three picks — and could develop into starters.

There’s also the free-agent route, which could land them someone such as Ron Leary or Josh Kline. Both are veterans that could help in the short-term and buy the team time. And as for Kline, he worked with Kevin Stefanski on the Minnesota Vikings.

In short, there are solutions out there, the Browns just need to decide which route to take. Whatever they do, they shouldn’t go into the season without adding someone to the competition at right guard.