Cleveland Browns need to bring in competition at center

The Cleveland Browns saved salary cap space by cutting J.C. Tretter. But the move has left a question mark in the most important position on the o-line.

The Cleveland Browns opened up salary cap space by moving on from J.C. Tretter. It was reported that the Browns were going to start back up center Nick Harris. But this front office is not known for simply handing jobs to people.

Look for the Browns to address the position to create competition.

The Browns have an incumbent at center in Nick Harris. He was chosen by this regime in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. He was viewed as short in stature for the position. But the front office liked his athletic ability to play in the outside zone scheme.

Harris has been on the IR in both the 2020 season and 2021. The first stint was for a knee injury late in the 2020 campaign. The second was a hamstring injury in October 2021. He returned from that injury in November. He would go on to start the Christmas Day game in Green Bay.

Was Harris’ injury related to his height?

Harris does an excellent job using leverage with his technique. Leverage is when an offensive lineman can get under a defender’s shoulder pads and move him by using the blocker’s hips as a fulcrum activating a lever.

Thus, his blocking style depends on proper technique and lower body strength. Someone taller might be able to stalemate a defender better. But Harris’ game is based on leverage.

This puts a greater onus on the lower body to be effective. This puts greater stress on the knees and hips. He has had two lower-body injuries in his career so far. It seems more are on the horizon.

Starting Nick Harris might be the best move for 2022. But moving forward the Browns will need to address the position in the draft. Harris has two years left on his rookie deal. In 2024 the Browns will need to pay him or move on. It gives them plenty of time to evaluate.

But what happens if he ends up on IR again? What is the backup plan? The Center is a major position in the outside zone offense. The center is the key signal-caller in terms of pass protection and run blocking schemes at the line of scrimmage. More than any other position, there needs to be stability at center.

Either way, don’t expect the Browns to hand Nick Harris the job. The Browns will most likely bring in some competition for the position. Will it be at pick No. 44 come April? Or will it be from free agency? Either way, the position needs to be addressed, soon.