5 Positions Cleveland Browns still need to improve

1. Left Tackle

While all the other positions mentioned need to be addressed, there’s no doubt that left tackle is the No. 1 priority at this point. Cleveland can make things work at any position if they don’t improve there. Sure, it won’t be as easy to compete, but they have starting-caliber players that can step in everywhere — except at left tackle.

This wasn’t the case for years as the Browns were able to lean on Joe Thomas from 2007 through 2017. Despite holes being all over the roster, they always had the blindside taken care of by one of the best to play the game.

It’s unfortunate that Thomas, who never missed a snap until he was injured in 2017, never had the talent around him for the team to contend. And in a bit of an ironic twist, the Browns now have the talent to compete but this position has become an albatross.

For the past season and a half, Greg Robinson was the player they trotted out. After replacing undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison during the 2018 bye week, Robinson played well. Cleveland trusted him enough to re-sign him for 2019 but he took a step backward. The Browns informed Robinson he wouldn’t be back in 2020 and then he got himself in a lot of trouble and his career is surely over.

Now, there’s no one on the team they can trust to start at left tackle. Jack Conklin is a right tackle only and Chris Hubbard is not an option after his struggles on the left side.

That means the Browns need to use the No. 10 overall pick on a left tackle, that is, unless Isaiah Simmons is available. However, if they do go that route, they could be putting themselves in a bad situation on the offensive line.

Of course, there might be a few options left in free agency, with Jason Peters and Chris Clark as options — or they could trade for Trent Williams.

Whatever they decide, they need to protect Baker Mayfield‘s blindside or this season could be in danger before it even officially begins.