The Browns are adding depth to their offensive line as they have agreed to terms with OT Cornelius Lucas on a two-year deal.
Lucas is entering his 12th NFL season and spent the last five seasons with the Commanders. In 2024, Lucas played 464 offensive snaps and allowed just one sack, and over his career in Washington, started games at both left and right tackle.
He first signed as an undrafted free agent with the Lions in 2014 where he spent the first three years of his NFL career. He spent one season each with the Rams, Saints and Bears before making his way to the Commanders in 2020. In his five seasons in Washington, Lucas started 38 of the 76 games he played.
Lucas joins a veteran offensive line that is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season, one that was filled with injuries. RG Wyatt Teller missed Weeks 4 through 7 with a knee injury. RT Jack Conklin missed the first five games of the season as he recovered from a knee injury. LT Jedrick Wills Jr. played just five games in 2024 before being placed on the injured reserve with a knee injury. The Browns used seven different combinations through the first eight games of the season as they rotated through available players.
As players returned to the lineup, they found consistency in the latter half of the season to improve as a unit.
However, they still have health questions heading into the 2025 season with T Dawand Jones, who sustained a fracture in his leg in Week 11 against the Saints that required surgery. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19 and missed the remainder of the season. While Jones will use the offseason to continue his rehab and prepare for the 2025 season, Lucas provides another option as a swing tackle for the Browns.
Lucas also joins a veteran group with the Browns which will feature the return of G Joel Bitonio for another season, alongside Conklin, Teller and C Ethan Pocic. With their leadership and years of playing experience, there is hope the offensive line can bounce back in 2025.
The Browns agreed to terms with T Cornelius Lucas, who has played in 129 career games with 54 starts with the Lions, Rams, Saints, Bears and Commanders.
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) blocks during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Kansas State offensive linesman Cornelius Lucas (78) gets set on the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas looks up ate the scoreboard during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) blocks during an NFL preseason football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) is seen with the words 'Stop Hate' and a 'Crucial Catch' sticker on his helmet before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions tackle Cornelius Lucas, center, blocks Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, left, and cornerback Terence Newman (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) walks in the bench area before the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (73) against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Washington Commanders tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) looks over the defense during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) blocks during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, December 12, 2022 in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas defends against the New Orleans Saints in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Detroit Lions tackle Cornelius Lucas (77) watches from the sideline during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. The Lions won 22-17. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) in action during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Washington Commanders tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) looks on during warm-ups prior to the NFL championship playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas watches during warm ups before the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Washington Commanders offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Atlanta. The Washington Commanders won 24-16. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (73) in action during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (73) in action against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (73) plays against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
This is a 2016 photo of Cornelius Lucas of the Detroit Lions NFL football team. This image reflects the Detroit Lions active roster as of Monday, June 13, 2016 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Detroit Lions tackle Cornelius Lucas (77) blocks Cleveland Browns linebacker Jamaal Westerman (49) in the second half of a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
