The Cleveland Browns had a glaring need at left tackle. With their first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Browns selected Jedrick Wills, a right tackle from Alabama.
It can be difficult for tackles to switch sides, particularly from right to left. But the Browns don’t seem too worried about it with Wills. New Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is certainly confident in his new left tackle.
“We’re very confident Jedrick has that ability and it’s something he’ll work at,’’ Stefanski said via teleconference. The coach then went into more elaborate detail on why he’s so bullish on Wills moving to the left side.
“I am very confident in Jedrick for a bunch of reasons,’’ Stefanski said. “First and foremost, I point out Bill Callahan. He’s top-notch at developing players. This is something that he has done before.
Then you have to look at Jedrick’s skillset and you have to look at the makeup of the kid. To some players, it may be a tougher transition than others, but I am very confident that Jedrick has that ability.”
Coach Stefanski continued,
“He has already been working on it. He was down there protecting the blind side of Tua (Tagovailoa, Alabama’s left-handed QB) as everybody knows. It is something that he will work at and he will continue to get better, but I feel confident that we have Coach Callahan there to lead that development.”
Wills can lean on Browns right tackle Jack Conklin, who switched to the right side as a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2016 after playing as a left tackle in college at Michigan State. Conklin made first-team All-Pro as a rookie at his new spot.