5 reasons Baker Mayfield will turn it around in 2020
By John Buhler
3. Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills are massive upgrades at the tackle spots
It’s not just Mayfield having more weapons at his disposal than he can ever know what to do with that makes him primed for a great season, it’s that the Browns no longer will be rocking a sweet pair of turnstiles at their tackle spots. Cleveland prioritized upgrading its bookends through the draft and free agency. Adding Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin are total game-changers.
Wills was one of four blue-chip offensive tackle prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played right tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide, meaning he was the guy responsible for keeping southpaw Tua Tagovailoa upright. Wills will have to learn to use his hands differently, but there was a reason he could have been the first tackle off the board in this past spring’s draft.
As for Conklin, he too was a blue-chip prospect coming out of Michigan State back in 2016. He had a tremendous rookie season with the Tennessee Titans, but a pair of down years in 2017 and 2018 led to him not getting the fifth-year option. He played better down the stretch in 2019 for Tennessee, but the Titans decided to let the right tackle walk. Conklin will be fired up for 2020.
Overall, Cleveland went about fixing its offensive line issues about as aggressively as an NFL franchise can in one offseason. Mayfield won’t be afraid of getting clocked coming off the edge at all times anymore. If having that extra split second means he stops throwing interceptions like they’re going out of style, that’ll only translate into Mayfield having a bounce-back season.