Cleveland Browns look to be working on a position change with a player they once traded for, and he could end up a starter as a result
Todd Monken and the Cleveland Browns look to be doing some shuffling with their offensive line, including a position switch.
Joel Bitonio announcing his retirement on Tuesday was more closure on the fact that the Cleveland Browns are going to have a completely different-looking offensive line in 2026.
The Browns brought in OT Tytus Howard via trade, G/C Elgton Jenkins and G Zion Johnson in free agency, and re-signed G/T Teven Jenkins. Cleveland knows four of their five starting offensive lineman, and they want to find the best possible fifth option ahead of the season.
The Browns could be having a position switch along the offensive line
Cleveland needed offensive tackle depth last season and sent a seventh-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for K.T. Leveston. Leveston was drafted as an offensive tackle and played in 13 games for Cleveland with time spent at both right and left tackle.
However, Leveston was the Browns’ right guard in first-team reps during 11-on-11 action on the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. We now have the clue that Cleveland is giving him a chance to be a starting right guard for them. It’s one possibility for the team to fill the fifth starting offensive line spot.
“We’re just trying to move guys around a little bit to see where we can find the best five,” Browns head coach Todd Monken said. “We do like his power and his toughness, from what we’ve seen from last year, obviously we don’t see it here. Last year when he got a chance to play, you could see that running off the football, his aggressiveness, finishing plays, you love that about him. Those kinds of guys you’re always trying to find a spot for.”
We know Fano, Johnson, Jenkins, and Howard will handle four of the five starting offensive line positions. Leveston is getting the chance to be a versatile piece for the Browns at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds. When you factor in Leveston being a better run blocker than pass blocker, guard just might be the spot for him.
Another domino along the Browns’ offensive line will have to play out
I see the best-case scenario for Cleveland entering Week 1 is either rookie Parker Brailsford or Luke Wypler being able to be their team’s starting guard. Getting to start Jenkins at the opposite guard spot for the Browns would put him in his best position to succeed. If Cleveland has a suitable starting center, it’ll have the flexibility to do this.
All it really comes down to is whether or not Jenkins will be the starting center. The Browns want their best five players out there, which may force them to put Jenkins at center because of him being the best option there over the two younger players. If the veteran has to hold down the center spot, then we’ll get Leveston, Teven Jenkins, and potentially rookie OL Austin Barber competing for the right tackle spot.
Either way, Cleveland’s offensive line is in a much better spot than last season after a full-on revamp of the unit. It’s a big deal for Monken in his first season as a head coach with a new offensive system.