Grading the Cleveland Browns offensive depth

Cleveland Browns Offensive Line Depth

Offensive Tackle Depth

The Browns, on paper, have a solid group of starting offensive tackles. The starters are Jedrick Wills on the left and two-time All-Pro Jack Conklin on the right. Wills is only going into this third season but there are reasons to be optimistic about his trajectory.

Conklin is coming off multiple horrendous injuries including a torn patella that ended his 2021 campaign. What do the Browns have behind the starting tackles?

Chris Hubbard was re-signed to assume the role of swing tackle in 2022. Hubbard is a highly skilled and experienced offensive lineman who could definitely fill in if his name was called upon. However, Hubbard has not finished either of the two previous seasons due to injury himself.

With Conklin’s injury history combined with Hubbard’s inability to stay healthy, the Browns may have to turn to James Hudson. A second-year player, Hudson was drafted in 2021 with the idea that he could develop into a player with starting level potential. Due to the aforementioned injuries, Hudson was thrust into the starting lineup as a rookie.

His first starting assignment was not well received as it was apparent that Hudson was not ready for the opportunity. However, his second stint as a starter went much smoother and showed the potential that the Browns saw during the draft. With a complete offseason in the Browns strength and conditioning program and under the tutelage of Callahan, Hudson could make a leap in his second year.

The Browns have several young unproven players competing at tackle behind Hubbard and Hudson this summer: Alex Taylor, Ben Petrula, and Elijah Nkansah. But counting on unproven commodities, presumed availability, and a second-year leap is not exactly ideal.

Offensive tackle depth: C-