The Cleveland Browns' Week 1 matchup versus the Jacksonville Jaguars simply couldn't end soon enough. The offense spun its wheels in mud while the defense was torched mercilessly by Trevor Lawrence and the Jags' high-octane attack. On the surface, it also appeared that the area where the Browns spent the most time and resources addressing this offseason — the offensive line — was hardly improved.
You know how sometimes folks will say there's good news and there's bad news? This is one of those situations. See, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was sacked five times in the game. That's, well, not ideal. But what if I told you the offensive line, while certainly not perfect, shouldn't bear the brunt of the blame, or any of it at all?
According to Pro Football Focus, no offensive linemen were responsible for allowing a sack on Sunday. Ditto for running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. This means on all five occasions, analysts at PFF determined Watson was the player responsible for the sack. That's where the duality of good and bad comes in; the offensive line didn't allow a sack, but the QB was self-sacked five times.
The Cleveland Browns' rebuilt offensive line only makes Deshaun Watson's decline harder to ignore
Once upon a time, Deshaun Watson was among the most mobile quarterbacks the NFL had to offer. He dazzled by land and through the air with startling regularity. Unfortunately for Browns fans, none of that happened while playing in city limits. In football years, it's been eons since Watson performed like an upper-echelon quarterback.
PFF credited Watson with having an average of 3.43 seconds to throw on each dropback. That was tied for the fourth-most time to throw among qualified passers. So, it's not that he didn't have time. He was simply indecisive. That, again, speaks highly to the efforts of the offensive line, even if it paints a damning picture of the quarterback play in Cleveland.
The exciting news is that the Browns' revamped offensive line — including rookies Spencer Fano and Austin Barber — appears to be gelling. As a friendly reminder, PFF grades operate on a specific scale: elite (90.0-plus), high quality (80.0–89.9), above average (70.0–79.9), average (60.0–69.9), below average (50.0–59.9), and poor (0.0–49.9). The Browns' big uglies performed markedly better as pass blockers, but there's clearly something to build on in the run game as well.
First-round left tackle Spencer Fano earned a 59.8 pass block grade and a 54.9 run block grade in his debut. Prized free-agent left guard Zion Johnson fared better, with a 69.9 pass block grade and a 66.9 run block grade. Veteran center Elgton Jenkins was superb as a pass blocker (84.6) and merely passable in the run game (58.7).
Third-round rookie Austin Barber got the nod at right guard, a foreign position to the collegiate left tackle. He was the surprise of the day, excelling as a pass blocker (83.2) and a run blocker (78.2). Finally, right tackle Tytus Howard was just okay as a pass blocker (56.2) but made up for it with a strong performance in the run game (73.4).
While it's understandably doom and gloom as the close to the Watson era inches closer at a glacial pace, there is truly something special brewing with the Browns' offensive line. General manager Andrew Berry deserves credit for how he rebuilt the group from the ground up this offseason. Jacksonville boasts a tough defensive line, too, so it's not like the group wasn't tested.
If nothing else, when the Browns draft their quarterback of the future in the 2027 NFL Draft, he will have a strong group to keep him upright while he learns the ropes. That is absolutely crucial for a rookie signal-caller making the leap to the pros. It's not the contender status fans crave, but it's something.
The 2026 season may be viewed by many as a throwaway year with little to look forward to. On the contrary, the nucleus that the future face of the franchise will join is taking shape before our very eyes. Between the offensive line and newly added receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston — and I admit it's not always easy to see — a foundation is being built.
Times are changing in Cleveland, and hopefully this time, it's for the better.
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