Will Cleveland Browns consider Ohio native Brian Winters at right guard?
By Greg Newland
Should the Cleveland Browns add guard Brian Winters?
With Drew Forbes opting out of the season last week, the Cleveland Browns offensive line went from finalized to lacking depth.
Forbes was not likely to find a starting position for the 2020 season, but he would have been a more than capable backup at either guard position should Wyatt Teller or Joel Bitonio have needed to miss any snaps.
Sunday evening Adam Schefter tweeted one of the first surprise releases of the season. The New York Jets decided to part ways with veteran guard Brian Winters. Winters was a long-time starter for the Jets after being drafted in the third round by the organization in 2013.
A surprise release: Jets are cutting last season’s starting right guard Brian Winters, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2020
As a starting guard, Winters is not expected to be without a job very long.
Winters has fought injuries throughout his career but has started nine-plus games in six of seven seasons. However, he’s only played in one full 16 games season since entering the league.
Should the Browns have interest in him now that Forbes has opted out? Winters makes a lot of sense on paper. He was born and raised in northeast Ohio, he graduated from Kent State University, and he is an athletic guard with a mean streak that would fit the Kevin Stefanski scheme well.
The million-dollar question remains, can he make it through the season without an injury? If the answer was a simple yes, he would likely have a job in New York still.
If Winters is motivated to play for his hometown Browns, there is a scenario that could make this a definite possibility. He could sign a one-year “prove it” deal with the Browns, add depth to the offensive line, and likely challenge Teller for the starting position. While Teller may lose out on some starting reps, most other questions would be answered. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan would likely welcome the added depth as well.
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Winters was set to make $7 million in 2020 and would likely have to take a pay cut if he wanted a deal to work with the Browns. But after missing so many games the last seven seasons because of injuries, he may be motivated to sign a one-year deal to prove that he is healthy and can sustain playing a full season. Andrew Berry has shown he is not afraid to add talent, but don’t expect him to overpay.