The Cleveland Browns offseason has seemed to stall out a little since the acquisition of quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Jacoby Brissett. The team’s current 53-man roster leaves a lot of holes, especially on the defensive line. The team seems to be hoping Jadeveon Clowney will return in free agency despite making it clear that money would be his number one deciding factor.
The Browns created some of their other potential holes with releases this offseason:
- WR Jarvis Landry
- TE Austin Hooper
- OC J.C. Tretter
The team also traded away Case Keenum making room for the Brissett signing.
Besides Clowney, the team could see a Landry return as well.
According to multiple reports, the team is now bringing in center Ethan Pocic. While Nick Harris was expected to start, the 26-year-old former second-round pick could compete for that role or provide the team with depth on the interior of their offensive line.
Pocic has started 40 of his 57 games with the Seattle Seahawks. According to Pro Football Reference, he has had 13 total penalties throughout his five-year career including eight holding calls.
At 6’6″, Pocic is a very tall center while Harris is more diminutive. Height on the interior of the line is not always a positive trait, especially at center where snapping the ball and getting into blocking position quickly is a premium. Pocic did not grade out well as a pass blocker last year:
4th worst pass blocking grade out of 40 qualified Centers last yr. But as a depth piece as insurance for Harris not panning out https://t.co/TbZ3OmF5ux
— TA (@ClevTA) March 29, 2022
Cleveland’s addition of Pocic gives the team more depth at a place of strength while the team looks to address positions of weakness over the next month including in the NFL draft.