It goes without saying that, in terms of plugging holes on the roster, the Cleveland Browns have a ton of work ahead of them. A large majority of the spots on the depth chart could easily be labeled as “position of need,” and new coach Hue Jackson will look to fill holes any way he can in the coming months.
However, there’s also work to be done within the Cleveland locker room when it comes to ensuring a mediocre roster doesn’t get worse. The Browns have a handful of players who are set to hit free agency, some the team may be willing to let walk and others who definitely need to be re-signed.
For prime examples of the latter category, look no further than Cleveland’s offensive line.
Veterans Joe Thomas, Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz are all in tricky situations as the start of the offseason nears. Though Thomas recently endorsed the Browns’ new coaching staff, there’s still a chance Cleveland moves him in an attempt to net more draft picks. Mack has an opt-out clause in his contract that could make him a free agent, but he has yet to make a final decision on whether or not he’ll utilize it. As for Schwartz, his contract is up, and he’s set to test the open market.
While the Browns have yet again hit the reset button in terms of building a competitive team, they obviously don’t have to start from the bottom at every position. If there’s an opportunity to work with some talent already within the team facility, the new front office has to take advantage of it.
This is why significant work must be done in order to keep Cleveland’s offensive line intact.
From the perspective of Mack and Schwartz, I certainly understand the desire to explore greener pastures. Neither player has any idea what being on a winning team feels like. With last season being painfully miserable, it’d be no surprise if either player had reached his breaking point with the Browns.
That said, the team should still put a ton of effort towards doing what it can to convince these players to stick around.
Thomas himself admitted he was incredibly excited with the changes the Browns have made this offseason, particularly raving about Jackson. The hope is Mack and Schwartz feel the same way. Still, persuading them to stay will be no easy feat.
Regardless of how well-respected Jackson is, Cleveland’s image around the league isn’t exactly an appealing one. There’s little doubt that if both Mack and Schwartz hit the market, better teams will express interest. Not only will Jackson have to convince them to at least listen to his pitch, he’ll also have to make them believe the Browns are moving in the right direction, something numerous coaches have told both players before.
However, it shouldn’t take much to make Jackson realize this is a bit of a desperate situation. Letting Mack and Schwartz even get to free agency unsigned could be incredibly dangerous, as their departures would decimate Cleveland’s line.
Both Schwartz and Mack are very talented linemen, with the latter coming off his third Pro Bowl. Replacing either would be an uphill battle, especially when you consider the minimal depth at center and right tackle.
The Browns, for their part, certainly tried to add depth to their line last draft. Unfortunately, it came in the form of Cameron Erving, who was an outright disaster during his rookie year. The idea of Mack walking and the team being forced to replace him with Erving should terrify fans, the front office and whomever is starting at quarterback next year.
This is why focusing on the offensive line has to be a top priority for Jackson. Cleveland should resist the urge to move Thomas, while also making sure Mack and Schwartz don’t become available for other teams to sign.
Yes, the Browns are in a complete rebuild. Still, destroying the offensive line by letting Mack and Schwartz walk while trading Thomas will only make said rebuild a much more grueling experience.
