Despite it being a strong point of their roster for the last half-decade, the Cleveland Browns are approaching a turning point along their offensive line as the 2024 NFL draft approaches.
And they know it.
As the offensive linemen took to the media room at their prospective podiums, a handful of them told me they had met with the Browns here in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine. They do not test until tomorrow, an opportunity for the Browns to gather more information on these young players.
Here is why this makes sense for the Browns to be pursuing, and the list of confirmed names to have met with Cleveland’s brass at the combine.
Why this makes sense for the Browns
The Browns have three offensive tackles likely in their last year with the franchise.
Former first rounder Jedrick Wills got his fifth-year option picked up and has the opportunity to potentially start again this year depending on the health of Jack Conklin. However, given Conklin’s injury history and lack of dead money beyond 2024, it’s a safe bet that this is his final year in brown and orange as well. Swing tackle James Hudson III enters the last year of his rookie deal too, and while he has a load of starting experience, he has proven to be borderline unplayable when plugged in.
Then we move on to the guards. Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller are not going anywhere this year. They are likely not going anywhere next year either. However, given Joel Bitonio’s age, combined with his injury-riddled season and dropoff in play in 2023, there could be a question mark about how much longer his career will go on. Teller’s dead money becomes manageable next year, but he was the best guard on the team (and the only offensive lineman to play every game in 2023) for the Browns.
The Browns like to draft a year out anyway, so there is a strong chance they may be pondering what the immediate future of the guard position looks like.
Regardless, the Browns are quite active in finding young offensive linemen to add to their roster in Indianapolis.
OG Christian Haynes, UConn
While Haynes stated this was an informal meeting, the UConn guard stated that he had talked with Cleveland’s offensive line coach Andy Dickerson at the combine. UConn runs an outside zone scheme, and Haynes’ tape is refined, making him a clean fit and potential guard of the future.
When talking to him at the podium, Haynes lit up at the possible opportunity to be a “sponge” behind Pro Bowlers Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller.
Haynes, however, is a highly sought-after prospect, so if the Browns are looking for his services, they may have to burn the 55th overall pick to get him in the building.
UConn OG Christian Haynes has formally met with the Browns at the Combine. Says he would love the opportunity to be a sponge behind two Pro Bowlers in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller pic.twitter.com/0Gm2sCmkde
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) March 2, 2024
OT Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
There are few players with a higher ceiling than Yale’s Kiran Amegadjie. He is long, and athletic, and stated his desire to work on his craft from the podium today. Amegadjie has had a formal meeting with the Browns here in Indianapolis and talked about how head coach Kevin Stefanski, a Penn alum, “busted his chops” for losing to his alma mater the past two seasons.
Amegadjie went on to discuss his comfort in a room full of Ivy Leaguers during his meeting with Cleveland’s brass.
Suffering a season-ending quad tear, however, Amegadjie will wait for his pro day to test. He told me he is on track to do every drill by the time that opportunity rolls around.
His draft stock is all over the map until more clarity on his quad injury comes to light during his combine medical checks. Likely a top-100 player, however, the Browns would need to utilize a Day 2 pick to get him to Berea.
Yale OT Kiran Amegadjie has formally met with the Browns. Said that Kevin Stefanski “busted his chops” about Penn beating Yale over the past two seasons, but felt a sense of connection in a room full of Ivy Leaguers pic.twitter.com/KW4cZu7M9j
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) March 2, 2024
OL Delmar Glaze, Maryland
Confirmed from his podium, Maryland offensive lineman Delmar Glaze formally met with the Browns in Indianapolis.
Glaze has played both guard and tackle for the Terrapins and stated that he has gotten mixed feedback from NFL teams about where they want him to play. Asking him for his preference, however, Glaze responded, “I just want to play football.”
With James Hudson III set to enter the last year of his deal, the Browns could land Glaze with a Day 3 pick. Could he be the swing tackle of the future in Cleveland?
Maryland OL Delmar Glaze has met formally with the Browns. Has inside-out versatility and says he’s getting mixed feedback from teams on whether they want him at tackle or guard. He has no preference on which and “just wants to play football” pic.twitter.com/uChlIhZehS
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) March 2, 2024
OG Javion Cohen
The offensive linemen were about 20 minutes behind schedule to get to the media room for interviews, and I did not see Cohen come out. However, The Draft Network’s Justin Melo has confirmed that the former Alabama and Miami guard had a formal meeting with the Browns this weekend.
Most mock draft simulators have Cohen as a Day 3 pick, so the Browns could get him on a budget if they miss out or do not want to use a higher draft pick on Haynes.
