It's a good year to be in the market for a young, talented offensive tackle, and the Browns find themselves among the slew of teams that fit that bill entering the 2020 NFL Combine.
As many as five tackle prospects have been pegged to fall in the top 15 in this year's draft, and some believe three could be already off the board by the time Cleveland picks at No. 10.
Still, there promises to be options, and NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah recently broke down that position group with the Browns in mind on a teleconference with reporters. While there are a number of talented players who could thrive in Cleveland, Jeremiah sees USC's Austin Jackson as one of the best possible fits for what the Browns want to accomplish under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
"He's somebody that as you go through the Combine, I think he's going to test really well and I think you're going to start hearing his name mentioned in that top 15-type mix," Jeremiah said. "If you want somebody to fit that offense, I don't know that anybody fits it better than him. He's only 20 years old. He's got great knee bend. He can really move laterally. He's going to get better."
Jackson, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound Phoenix native, was a two-year starter at left tackle at USC, where his grandfather, Melvin, won a 1974 national championship. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares Jackson to Arizona's D.J. Humphries, who struggled initially but had a strong 2019 season and, just last week, signed a lucrative contract extension. He calls Jackson "raw but gifted."
"He's scheme-diverse with potential guard flexibility if he improves his strength," Zierlein writes. "He could become an early starter but may offer a wider split between floor and ceiling than some teams might like."
Jackson made headlines before his junior season when he donated his bone marrow to his ailing sister, Autumn, who suffers from Diamond Blackfan Anemia. The procedure prevented Jackson from participating in much of USC's offseason workouts and limited him in a number of aspects throughout his final season.
Jeremiah believes Jackson's stock will ascend now that he's more than seven months removed from the procedure.
"Obviously speaks to the kind of brother he is and his character," Jeremiah said. "But the loss of that offseason, he just needs to get physically stronger, but as a 20-year-old with that type of athletic ability, the upside is really endless. And I think he's somebody that maybe people are sleeping on a little bit at this point in time.
"I have a feeling once we come out of the Combine, Austin Jackson will be a name that Cleveland Browns will keep an eye on."
Get ready for the Combine next week by checking out photos of current Browns working out at their combines
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State University wide receiver Odell Beckham speaks to the media at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Miami defensive lineman Olivier Vernon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Charlotte nose tackle Larry Ogunjobi is seen before a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
University of Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs up the field at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Louisiana State wide receiver Odell Beckham makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is seen before a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Bench Press at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield throws during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this March 3, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis. Mayfield is expected to be a first round pick in the NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, March. 1, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward competes in the Vertical Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Monday, March 4, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU defensive back Greedy Williams participates in a drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, March. 4, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Cornell offensive lineman J C Tretter gets measured during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham runs a drill at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014.(Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs a drill at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium, Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Louisiana State wide receiver Jarvis Landry makes a one-handed catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb participates in the broad jump during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State University wide receiver Odell Beckham catches footballs at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham runs the 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Georgia running back Nick Chubb runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Miami tight end David Njoku runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Louisiana State wide receiver Jarvis Landry runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
North Carolina Charlotte defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
