The Cleveland Browns needed to overhaul their offensive line this offseason. With multiple players set to hit free agency, general manager Andrew Berry took a page out of the Chicago Bears' book to revamp that unit in a single offseason.
It all started when he traded for Houston Texans right tackle Tytus Howard. That move was met with mixed reviews, as his advanced numbers were solid but the Texans' offensive line struggled as a unit. Immediately signing Howard to a contract extension only put more pressure on him.
The Browns then signed guard Zion Johnson, an uber-athletic veteran who never lived up to the hype as a former first-round draft pick. Again, it was hard to get behind this move from the jump, and the early returns haven't changed the narrative.
Through two games, Howard and Johnson have been the weakest links on this new five-man unit. Even rookies Spencer Fano and Austin Barber have looked significantly better, and this could be a serious problem for Todd Monken's team going forward.
Tytus Howard and Zion Johnson are struggling, and the Browns have no easy way out
While it's still early and a new offensive line needs time to gel, there were already questions about this pair. The worst part is that there's no financially responsible way to cut them loose. Howard will make $13.5 million guaranteed in 2027, and they're on the hook with Johnson for $13.5 million as well.
Before anyone asks, the #Browns can't realistically cut either Tytus Howard or Zion Johnson after 2026.
— Jack Duffin (@JackDuffin) September 20, 2026
They are here for 2027 with $13.5m and $13.565m guaranteed respectively
According to Pro Football Focus, Howard surrendered a team-high four pressures in Week 2, including one quarterback hit and one sack. He's up to seven pressures, two quarterback hits, and one sack allowed this season. He also struggled mightily in the running game with a 29.3 run-block grade in Week 2.
As for Johnson, he was slightly above average in the running game (57.6) and didn't allow a single pressure in Week 2, but he's now up to three penalties in two games. That's nearly as many as he had in 1,131 snaps last season (4).
Good things take time, but there's not much about these players' past that makes people feel confident about their future. Yes, they bring positional versatility to the table, but does that really help when the Browns are always playing the same five guys in the same spots?
This team found two potential building blocks in the same draft class in Fano and Barber, but the best way to help them is by surrounding them with veterans. The Browns can't realistically bail on their two biggest offseason additions right now. They can only hope they get it together with more reps.
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