Subsequent up on our Cleveland Browns coaching camp preview for the offensive line place is the inside: guard and heart. Though we really feel assured in one of many positions, coaching camp will assist resolve who begins within the different two spots. Followers have already made their voices heard.
6. Elgton Jenkins – Beginning OG/C
Top: 6-5 | Weight: 310 lbs | Age: 30Experience: 8 years | School: Mississippi State
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 20: Elgton Jenkins #74 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill in the course of the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Exercises at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Might 20, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
With the Browns not retaining C Ethan Pocic in free company, they wanted to present themselves an choice in the marketplace. They did so with veteran Elgton Jenkins, signing him to a 2-year, $24 million deal.
A second-round decide by the Packers in 2019, Jenkins proved to be sturdy, beginning 94 video games. He made the Professional Bowl as a guard in 2020 and 2022, and was then moved to heart final 12 months. There have been reviews that he wasn’t essentially thrilled with taking part in heart, when fascinated by the higher salaries that guards make as free brokers in comparison with facilities. That is likely to be moot at this level, contemplating he’s beneath contract.
Jenkins’ expertise at guard has primarily been at left guard, however it appears like Zion Johnson is locked up there. I’m certain Jenkins can play the precise aspect simply advantageous too, however my thought course of heading into camp is that Cleveland will have the ability to get one of the best 5 offensive linemen on the sphere if Jenkins is at heart, and another person performs proper guard. Barry Shuck additionally has an article all about Jenkins’ background right here.
7. Zion Johnson – Beginning OG
Top: 6-3 | Weight: 315 lbs | Age: 26Experience: 5 years | School: Boston School
BEREA, OHIO – APRIL 21: Zion Johnson #77 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the sphere after a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
Zion Johnson was a primary spherical decide by the Chargers within the 2022 NFL Draft, beginning 65 video games in that stretch. He has primarily performed left guard, and that’s the beginning job he’s anticipated to tackle with Cleveland. While you have a look at his PFF rankings for the previous few years, although, it doesn’t seem to be a slam dunk signing for Cleveland. Johnson struggled a bit with the Chargers final 12 months, rating because the league 53rd finest guard.
Johnson has a little bit of a popularity of struggling in move blocking, with the flexibility to be a mauler within the run recreation. There’s additionally been some consistency points over the course of his profession. On the floor, the Browns positively overpaid for Johnson’s 3-year, $49.5 million deal. They’re banking on him being a greater for for what offensive line coach George Warhop and head coach Todd Monken wish to do offensively, very like the lightbulb clicked as soon as Wyatt Teller had a change of surroundings from Buffalo to Cleveland.
Heading into camp, I get that Johnson has a beginning function locked up, however I gained’t know what to anticipate from him till we’re a few video games into the season. Barry Shuck’s write-up on all the things to learn about Jenkins is right here.
8. Teven Jenkins – Competing OG
Top: 6-6 | Weight: 321 lbs | Age: 28Experience: 6 years | School: Oklahoma State
BEREA, OHIO – APRIL 21: Teven Jenkins #78 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill throughout a voluntary veteran minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 21, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
Final 12 months, the Browns signed Teven Jenkins to an inexpensive deal after he was coming off some accidents from his time with the Chicago Bears. Jenkins made 4 begins with the Browns and noticed motion in just a few different video games attributable to accidents throughout the road, and the previous second-round decide did an sufficient job.
If Jenkins begins at proper guard, he can be the one returning participant beginning on the offensive line this 12 months. He has the potential to be a barely above common move and run blocker, a level of consistency in each points of his recreation that others on the road may lack (i.e. they may excel in move blocking, however battle in opposition to the run).
Even when Jenkins doesn’t begin, he’d be the workforce’s high choice as a backup, which places his roster odds at a excessive share.
9. Parker Brailsford – Rookie C
Top: 6-2 | Weight: 290 lbs | Age: 22Experience: Rookie | School: Alabama
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 08: Parker Brailsford #52 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the sphere after a rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Might 08, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
If I known as Dawand Jones one of many high gamers to look at in Browns camp this offseason, then Parker Brailsford is correct up there with him. As a fifth-round decide on this 12 months’s draft, it’s pure to suppose that Brailsford gained’t be able to win the beginning heart job from day one. Nevertheless, if he thrives in camp, then I’m certain the teaching employees would love to stay him at heart and make E. Jenkins completely satisfied by placing him at proper guard.
Dane Brugler had Brailsford because the Seventh-ranked heart on this 12 months’s draft class:
General, Brailsford will solely enchantment to sure groups, due to his body, however he’s gentle on his ft, powerful as nails and might deal with all the things from a psychological standpoint. He has the potential to be a starter for a scheme dwelling in an outside-zone world.
Brugler mentions how Brailsford would solely enchantment to sure groups, and DBN’s Matthew Wilson wrote about why Cleveland is certainly a kind of groups, calling him “a slightly smaller version of Tyler Linderbaum” (who was the Ravens’ heart beneath Todd Monken). Right here is Shuck’s profile on Brailsford’s background.
10. Luke Wypler – Backup C
Top: 6-3 | Weight: 303 lbs | Age: 25Experience: 3 years | School: Ohio State
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 27: Luke Wypler #56 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the sphere after the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Exercises at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Might 27, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
Perhaps it’s too quickly to put in writing off Luke Wypler, who was a sixth spherical decide in 2023 by the Browns out of Ohio State. Nevertheless, when Cleveland goes out and drafts a possible substitute heart (Brailsford) and indicators a man (E. Jenkins) who began at heart final 12 months, Wypler instantly falls to 3rd on the depth chart in my view, combating for a roster spot.
Wypler missed all of 2024 with an ankle harm, however began 5 video games final 12 months. He was carted off within the season finale with a knee harm, however is good-to-go for camp.
Though my psychological notion is down on Wypler, the middle place is one that’s up for grabs. Coming into his fourth 12 months, possibly Wypler can construct off his expertise from a 12 months in the past. Monken has indicated beforehand that he’d favor to have E. Jenkins at guard, so if that holds true, then it might be a contest between Brailsford and Wypler. If Brailsford isn’t fast to choose issues up, possibly Wypler supplies a extra secure presence initially.
11. Zak Zinter – Backup OG
Top: 6-6 | Weight: 310 lbs | Age: 25Experience: 3 years | School: Michigan
BEREA, OHIO – MAY 20: Zak Zinter #70 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill in the course of the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Exercises at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Might 20, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures) Diamond Pictures/Getty Pictures
The ultimate of the highest contenders on the inside of the offensive line (moreover KT Leveston and Dawand Jones probably, which we talked about in our sort out piece) is Zak Zinter. Sadly for Zinter, regardless of being a third-round decide just a few seasons in the past, his ceiling to compete for in camp is to hold on to a reserve function.
After beginning 3 video games as a rookie, he solely performed in 5 video games final 12 months and didn’t begin any of them regardless of the workforce’s harm woes throughout the road. Lance Reisland thinks the damaged tibia and fibula he suffered with Michigan in opposition to Ohio State has harm the short-area burst he used to have:
Subsequent up, we’ll have a look at the remaining gamers competing for backup spots in camp on the offensive line.
