Fansided

5 burning questions the Browns must answer in 2019

By William Schneiderhan

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on February 28, 2019 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 17: Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Austin Corbett (63) in his stance during the third quarter of the National Football League preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on August 17, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Buffalo defeated Cleveland 19-17. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 17: Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Austin Corbett (63) in his stance during the third quarter of the National Football League preseason game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns on August 17, 2018, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Buffalo defeated Cleveland 19-17. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

As a coach, you sleep much easier at night knowing you have a rookie, inexperienced quarterback playing behind an elite offensive line. You don’t have to necessarily fret over your young signal caller getting hit often or being forced into mistakes due to the opposition’s defensive pressure bullying you in the trenches.

Last season, that was the case for Mayfield and the Browns. Pro Football Focused ranked the team’s offensive line as the second best in all of football following the end of the regular season. More importantly for Mayfield, they had one of the best pass-blocking efficiency ratings at 88.5 as well.

However, a large part of that offensive line, Kevin Zeitler, was traded away to the New York Giants in the Vernon trade package. Now, with Zeitler out of town, Austin Corbett appears to be the favorite to fill Zeitler’s void.

Corbett was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft as a center out of Nevada. He has been somewhat of a project, as the team has been experimenting to find his true position in the NFL.

It is always a gamble when you trade an important piece to your offensive line. However, Dorsey and the Browns believe Corbett may be capable of handling the job. J.C. Tretter is still at center and Joel Bitonio has the left guard position solidified.

Corbett and his ability to perform and takeover Zeitler’s position is a massive question heading into the summer. If he can’t handle it, the Browns may have played their hand too much and Mayfield and the offense will suffer from it.

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