It seemed like a forgone conclusion that the Cleveland Browns were going to take a tackle with the tenth pick in the 2020 NFL draft. They did indeed with Jedrick Wills being the selection, the second tackle off the board in the draft.
As a rookie, Wills played well enough especially considering switching from the right side to the left and the limitations from COVID-19 protocols. Going into year two of the same system and a full offseason, Wills could be in a position to take a big step forward.
Joel Bitonio has had a lot of teammates on either side of him and liked what he saw from Wills last year but has expectations for this year. “You saw that he was a first-round tackle – his athletic ability, the way he moves and how he can move guys,” Bitonio said. He continued, “O linemen taking that first to second-year leap and having an offseason this year a little bit more than last year is going to be big for him. I think he can make big moves.”
How big of a leap could Wills make? Bitonio believes he has a chance to make a big one. “I think he has a chance to be in the upper echelon of left tackles. I do not know if it is going to happen this year or next, but I think if he just keeps working and improving, he has a chance to be really good.”
Bitonio played a few years with one of those upper-echelon players in Joe Thomas so he knows what it looks like. With all five starters returning and Bill Callahan still coaching the offensive line, Wills has all the support needed to make that big leap Bitonio believes he can.