Browns’ unheralded rookie looks to be trending toward taking a starting job from a veteran that he might not give back
We know several rookies will play significantly for the Browns in 2026, but one Day 3 rookie seems to be inching toward a starting job as well.
The Cleveland Browns are still working through their roster ahead of the Week 1 matchup on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and one of the biggest developments coming out of the final stretch of the preseason involves the offensive line.
Rookie offensive lineman Austin Barber is pushing for the starting right guard job, and a minor injury to Teven Jenkins could open the door for the Florida product sooner than expected.
Austin Barber is in the mix to start for the Browns
The Browns offensive line picture has been fairly settled outside of one spot. Cleveland was never able to move center Elgton Jenkins out of the center spot to right guard because Parker Brailsford was injured all of training camp and never able to push for the starting job at center. That kept Jenkins locked in at center and left the right guard spot to Teven Jenkins
While Jenkins currently holds the starting right guard job, he’s dealing with a minor injury that has created a window for Barber. Over the last couple weeks of the preseason, the Browns started moving Barber from his offensive tackle spot into the interior at right guard, where he’s been able to get snaps with the first team in practice as well.
Browns head coach Todd Monken said on Wednesday that if Teven Jenkins is not able to practice at right guard, Barber will be getting first-team reps in preparation for the Jaguars. Jenkins did return to practice, but this is still a very unsettled spot on the offensive lineman.
That’s a key development for the late Day 2 selection.
Austin Barber has looked the part at right guard
At 6-foot-6, 312 pounds, Barber plays with a lot of steam behind him that allows him to get his hands on defenders. He gets downfield and he’s looking to put someone on the ground at all times. That kind of aggressiveness has caught plenty of eyes already.
The Browns obviously know that rookies like left tackle Spencer Fano and wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are all going to play key roles this season. But it’s looking more and more like Cleveland might have something with Barber as an interior offensive lineman, and it could happen as soon as Week 1 against the Jaguars.
If the Browns can have two of their five offensive linemen as rookies playing at a high level, it’s a major win for that group, especially considering what Cleveland’s offensive line looked like a year ago.
Jenkins has had injury issues in the past that have limited what he can be in the NFL. Each year he’s missing multiple games, and 2025 was his first 17-game season in his fifth year. Even if Barber isn’t starting in Week 1, he has to be ready to step in and play, and he looks to be.
Barber is a player who is going to go through his bumps and bruises like any other rookie, but he has a chance to be a solid offensive lineman for the Browns longterm. His chance to step into the limelight could be coming sooner than expected. The res of this week and next will be telling.
