5 players the Cleveland Browns will miss the most in 2021
By Sam Penix
4. OT Kendall Lamm
The Browns owned the NFL’s best offensive line in 2020, which is all the more impressive considering the starting five didn’t play together that much relative to other teams. Excellent depth held the line together, and there is a good argument to be made that former starter Chris Hubbard was the most valuable backup in the league. However, he was not the only backup tackle to play significant snaps.
Lamm filled in for first-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr. at left tackle for three games and for right tackle Jack Conklin in one. He performed admirably, with his finest moment coming in Cleveland’s Wild Card Round domination of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Conklin left after 17 snaps, leaving Lamm to deal with reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt for 30 pass-block snaps.
The only time Watt managed a pressure was on Lamm’s first snap. Other than that, the vaunted edge rusher was completely shut down by the Browns third-string RT.
He signed a two-year $6.8 million deal with the Tennessee Titans to start on the right side, which is a tad ironic considering that’s where Conklin, an All-Pro in 2020, used to play. Lamm will likely be replaced by rookie James Hudson, who is quite talented but extremely raw. That puts more pressure on Hubbard to stay healthy, because the peace of mind with Lamm behind him is no longer there.