The Browns are about two weeks away from the start of training camp, which will kick off with their visit to the Greenbrier. To prepare for training camp, we're putting together a preview of each position on the roster. Let's take a look at the offensive line as the next part of the series.
The Offensive Line:
Centers
Brian Allen
Ethan Pocic
Luke Wypler
Guards
Joel Bitonio
Javion Cohen
Wyatt Davis
Michael Dunn
Germain Ifedi
Wyatt Teller
Zak Zinter
Tackles
Hakeem Adeniji
Jack Conklin
James Hudson III
Dawand Jones
Roy Mbaeteka
Lorenzo Thompson
Jedrick Wills Jr.
What we know: The Browns will see the return of key tackles during the 2024 season in Conklin, Jones and Wills. They each suffered season-ending knee injuries throughout different points of the 2023 season and have continued their recovery processes. Jones was a participant during minicamp, while Conklin and Wills worked off to the side as they continued their recoveries. Having their tackles back in the mix will provide a lift to the offensive line that was depleted last season due to all the injuries.
Bitonio, Teller and Pocic also anchor the Browns offensive line, and each play an integral role in the success up front. The Browns also re-signed Dunn, bringing back a long-time staple of the offensive line.
The Browns also addressed the need for depth to the offensive line in the offseason, signing Adeniji, Mbaeteka and Ifedi during free agency, drafting Zinter and signing Cohen, Davis and Thompson in the offseason. They now have their core offensive line healthy, as well as additional depth to provide necessary backup options.
The biggest question: How will Andy Dickerson coach the offensive line? Dickerson joined the Browns coaching staff in February as the new offensive line coach following Bill Callahan's departure for Tennessee. With a new position coach can come changes to terminology, but the Browns have used the offseason program and will use training camp to all be on the same page with the terminology changes.
Yet, Dickerson worked with Callahan at the Jets as his assistant in 2011. He learned from Callahan, which created carryover of elements that are familiar to him and to the players that were with the Browns while Callahan was the position coach. Dickerson said he's also not trying to fill Callahan's shoes; instead, he wants to carve his own path and coach his unit. He's learned the different techniques and styles of his players and finding the best way to blend it all together.
The Browns will see the return of key tackles during the 2024 season in Conklin, Jones and Wills. Having their tackles back in the mix will provide a lift to the offensive line that was depleted last season due to all the injuries. Bitonio, Teller and Pocic also anchor the Browns offensive line, and each play an integral role in the success up front. The Browns also re-signed Dunn, bringing back a long-time staple of the offensive line.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during a workout on the first day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 10, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during a NFL football game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on December 28, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 37-20.
Center Brian Allen (52) during OTA 4 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during a workout on the second day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 11, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during a NFL divisional round playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on January 17, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 17-22.
Offensive guard Wyatt Davis (50) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2024.
Center Brian Allen (52) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during a workout on the second day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 11, 2024.
Center Brian Allen (52) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during OTA 4 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 28, 2024.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 30, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on November 12, 2023 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns won 33-31.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during a NFL Wild Card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on January 13, 2024 at NRG Stadium. The Browns lost 14-45.
Offensive guard Javion Cohen (67) during a workout on the second day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 11, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on December 24, 2023 at NRG Stadium. The Browns won 36-22.
Offensive tackle Germain Ifedi during a workout in Phase I of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 23, 2024.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during a workout in Phase I of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 18, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 22, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on November 19, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Center Luke Wypler (56) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts on October 22, 2023 at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Browns won 39-38.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos on November 26, 2023 at Empower Field at Mile High. The Browns lost 12-29.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams on December 3, 2023 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 19-36.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) after a NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns on November 5, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 27-0.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks on October 29, 2023 at Lumen Field. The Browns lost 20-24.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) before a NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on December 17, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 20-17.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on November 12, 2023 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns won 33-31.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on January 7, 2024 at Paycor Stadium. The Browns lost 14-31.
Center Luke Wypler (56) before a NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns on November 5, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 27-0.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams on December 3, 2023 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 19-36.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams on December 3, 2023 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 19-36.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a NFL Wild Card playoff football game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans on January 13, 2024 at NRG Stadium. The Browns lost 14-45.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during a NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns on October 15, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 19-17.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams on December 3, 2023 at SoFi Stadium. The Browns lost 19-36.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) before the Hall of Fame Game between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns on August 3, 2023 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The Browns won 21-16.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) during a NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns on September 24, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 27-3.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 10, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 24-3.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during the second day of mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) before a NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 10, 2023 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns won 24-3.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 30, 2024.
Offensive tackle Lorenzo Thompson (69) during a workout on the first day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 10, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka during a workout in Phase II of the offseason at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 29, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during a workout on the first day of Rookie Minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 10, 2024.
The X-Factor: Bitonio. Going into his 11th season with the Browns, Bitonio has been a focal point of the offensive line. He held a streak of 102 regular-season games without missing a snap until last season, when he was sidelined for one game following the Browns' bye week due to arthroscopic knee surgery. He's earned six straight Pro Bowl selections in his career and played in a total of 144 career games. Coming in healthy for the 2024 season, Bitonio has another season to play an integral part in the success of the offensive line and be a voice of leadership among the offense.
Says it all: "if Joel starts to make a point, or Jack or Jed, if anybody makes one of those points and they're talking to a young guy, I've been giving them ownership and listening to their thoughts and ideas. I get to work with the players. I don't say, 'Hey guys, we just work together.' You can learn something from all those guys because they're doing it week in and week out. And so, it's actually a blessing to learn from those guys. I have been a part of younger rooms, older rooms, so it's the diversity within the room. Just trying to learn as much as you can from everybody and put the best product together possible." – offensive line coach Andy Dickerson said on coming in as the new offensive line coach
How many were kept on the initial 53-man roster last year: 9
