The Cleveland Browns OTAs will take place late in May and into the second week of June. We might not hear much, but we should pay attention to these 4 storylines
They might not be the most intense practices, but the Cleveland Browns OTAs are still going to help the coaching staff learn a lot about their 2022 roster.
While many of the key starters are figured out, the Browns will still have plenty of competition going on. There are several new faces on both sides of the ball, not to mention an entire rookie class that will be out to prove they belong.
The Browns OTAs are going on now as they’re meeting May 24-26 and will get back together May 31-June 2 and then again June 6 through the 9th. And with all that being said, here are four storylines to follow during those practices.
Browns OTAs storyline No. 4: Backup IOL battle
It might not seem like the most intense battle, but there will be some competition behind the interior linemen this season.
Cleveland enters the OTAs with a new starting center in Nick Harris — that is, as long as Harris can hold off veteran Ethan Pocic. While the expectation is that he will win the starting job, the intrigue is going to be with how the depth chart falls for the reserve linemen.
Pocic seems safe considering his experience as a starter but guys such as Michael Dunn, Blake Hance, and Drew Forbes could be in trouble. The Browns added Dawson Deaton in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft and then picked up free-agent rookie Ben Petrula — who can play all over the line.
OTAs don’t always tell us a ton about the big men, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on how this battle starts to take form during these initial practices.
Browns OTAs storyline No. 3: David Bell’s usage
Since the Browns added Purdue wide receiver David Bell in the third round of the NFL Draft, there have been comparisons made to Jarvis Landry. Over the past four seasons, Landry has been the most consistent receiver on the team as he had 288 receptions for 3,560 yards with 15 touchdowns.
As solid as he was, he was being overpaid. Due roughly $16 million, Landry was coming off his worst statistical season and the front office made a move to save some money ‚— and he ended up with his hometown New Orleans Saints.
Even with Landry being the top receiver, he was best utilized in the slot. And if Bell is truly going to replace him, it will have to be in this role.
The good thing for Cleveland is that Bell is a capable player all over the field. Yes, he will be tasked with playing the slot role where Landry excelled but it will be interesting to see where he lines up throughout OTAs and the upcoming training camp.
It will also be worth watching where he falls in the pecking order. Surely, he will be behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones but can he leapfrog Anthony Schwartz and Jakeem Grant? Bell was a highly productive collegiate athlete, but nothing will be handed to him. His work to become a key piece of the offensive puzzle starts in these minicamps.
Browns OTAs storyline No. 2: Chase Winovich’s spot in the defense
The Cleveland Browns made a couple of splash moves this offseason. We all know about their trades for quarterback Deshaun Watson and wide receiver Amari Cooper. Fans even got excited when they re-signed Jadeveon Clowney recently.
But there’s one move that has been largely overlooked — the trade for Chase Winovich. Cleveland sent linebacker Mack Wilson to the New England Patriots in exchange for Winovich who was listed as a linebacker with New England.
In Cleveland, he should be used more on the EDGE. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder had 11 sacks in his first two seasons with the Patriots but fell down the depth chart in year three. He wound up playing in just 13 games and had 11 tackles with no sacks.
Since joining the Browns, he has been fully embracing the new opportunity. He had fans vote on his new number and chopped off his golden locks — making him look like a completely different person.
Now that he’s in Berea, the question will be where he actually does line up and how far down the depth chart he is. It seems likely he would be the primary reserve rusher, taking on the role Takk McKinley had in 2022. If so, he could re-discover the pass rush he had early in his career, which would be exactly what this defense needs from him.
Browns OTAs storyline No. 1: Deshaun Watson, Amari Cooper connection
During his four seasons as the starting quarterback in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield had a couple of big-name targets to work with. During his rookie season, he had Jarvis Landry, and then in 2019, Odell Beckham, Jr. was added to the mix.
Mayfield did have a solid connection with Landry but it was never there with him and OBJ. They always seemed to be on a different page and in the end, it was in the best interest of the team to let Beckham walk. It worked out for him as he won a Super Bowl, even though he again is dealing with a torn ACL.
Cleveland has also turned the page as they have a new quarterback in Deshaun Watson and No. 1 wideout in Amari Cooper. These two are expected to be central to the offensive game plan for the next several years — as long as they’re able to find a rapport with one another.
It’s not as if some practices in pads and shorts will tell us everything we need to know, but it will give us our first glimpse into how these two perform together.
And with the amount of money being invested in them, it will surely be a major topic of discussion over the summer.