Cleveland Browns: 3 way-too-early needs in 2022 NFL Draft

Three needs for the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns have all but wrapped up their additions for the 2021 NFL season, and training camp doesn’t start until late July, but the front office is always looking far ahead.

This roster will look very different next season, and needs must be filled with rookies.

Here are three areas the Browns will likely need to address in the 2022 NFL Draft.

3. Interior offensive line

The Browns had the NFL’s best offensive line last season, and of course, a huge part of that success was the play of the three interior players; Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Wyatt Teller. Bitonio is the longest-tenured player on the roster, Tretter hasn’t missed a snap as a member of the team, and Teller came out of nowhere to become one of the league’s very best guards in 2020.

Cleveland certainly understands the importance of protecting Baker Mayfield, and made that priority No. 1 last offseason. The group plays very well together, but the long-term outlook of the room is unclear.

Bitonio may be going on 30 years old, but he’s coming off arguably the best campaign of his career. He’s under contract for two more seasons, counting for essentially $10 million against the cap each year. He has no more guaranteed money on his deal, which could mean he’s a candidate for a restructure and extension, or a cut or trade.

What the Browns decide to do with Bitonio could have a lot to do with what happens regarding Teller. He will be playing on the final year of his rookie deal and thus eligible for an extension. He’s a one-year wonder at this point, but what a year it was. He was quite simply dominant as a run blocker, and the Cleveland run game struggled in the games he missed. Teller’s pass-blocking was inconsistent, but in no way was it bad.

When viewing the roster through a metric lens, guard is one of the least valuable positions, contributing little to points or wins. If Teller has another year like 2020, he could very well price himself out of the range that the Browns are willing to pay him, and they have a potential replacement for Teller (or Bitonio, or even Jack Conklin) on the roster in Drew Forbes, an elite athlete, and perfect scheme fit.

Tretter is one of the most important players on the roster, and is arguably the toughest player in the league. He has two years left on his deal, with little dead money remaining. He’s now 30 years old, and eventually, all those snaps and injuries he’s played through will catch up with him; it’s just a matter of when.

2020 fifth-round pick Nick Harris is small, but his elite movement skills make him a great fit in the Kevin Stefanski wide zone scheme. He will factor into the team’s plans, but so will the 2021 draft class.

Whether it’s a rookie starter or someone to take over in 2023, the Browns will likely be drafting an iOL relatively early in 2022.