8 Cleveland Browns falling behind in training camp
By Sam Penix
![Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., left, works on pass blocking techniques on Monday, August 2, 2021 in Berea, Ohio, at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]Browns 8 3 15](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F16508823-850x560-9211ef435b6580b5a9edfe0a00583b542497cc8726c6f473119e37f3d3f69bec.jpg "Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., left, works on pass blocking techniques on Monday, August 2, 2021 in Berea, Ohio, at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]Browns 8 3 15")
5. Nick Harris
Nick Harris was drafted to potentially take over for J.C. Tretter, but that plan may end up changing. Harris saw the field in 2020 as a guard, and his lack of size and anchor was evident. Those issues should be less prevalent as a center, but they will always exist, and Harris’s elite movement skills may not be enough to overcome that.
He has still been getting the reps in camp that Tretter doesn’t take, but so has Michael Dunn, who played very well at guard against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. Harris was a fifth-round pick, and Dunn an undrafted free agent, but draft pedigree pales in comparison to on-field performance. If Dunn shows he can provide quality depth at both guard and center without size and strength concerns, Harris could be on the outside looking in.
4. Cody Parkey
The Browns don’t have an elite kicker, so that means they aren’t beholden to one. Cody Parkey was fine last season, but kicking in the NFL is so volatile. Thus far in training camp, Chase McLaughlin has been beating Parkey in the kicking contests, and has a stronger leg.
He’s made 22 of his 28 career attempts, including 4-5 from beyond 50 yards. There is a very real kicking battle going on, because there’s a good chance McLaughlin doesn’t make it through waivers to become the team’s emergency kicker on the practice squad. Parkey has been in this situation before, but he needs to up his game to keep his spot.
3. Marvin Wilson
The Browns made Wilson the richest undrafted free agent in NFL history, and with a weak and unproven DT room, he was going to have a great chance to make the team. But as the Browns showed with A.J. Green in 2020 (who was the richest UDFA until Wilson), that financial commitment does not guarantee a roster spot.
Wilson is behind Sheldon Day and Tommy Togiai on the depth chart at backup 1-tech, and there is a lot of competition in that group as a whole. Wilson will need to play well in the preseason if he’s to stick around.