The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line is about to officially be gutted. That is not new news. Every Browns fan practically knows this. The only question that remains is how many from the Week 1 lineup in 2025 the front office will get rid of. All but one, LT Dawand Jones, is a free agent and has not been offered an extension, as of now.
One player GM Andrew Berry may keep before the free agency period begins is C Ethan Pocic. Then again, Po may enter as a free agent and find another employer. On the bench is former Ohio State center Luke Wypler, who is ready and waiting to take the starting job.
But the Browns may decide to bring in a seasoned veteran instead. In 2025, Pocic had a base salary of $5.66 million, so that is probably the perimeter Berry will want to abide by. Since Cleveland is a heavy analytics team, that strategy does not pay certain positions well, and center is among those on that list.
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That means two of the best centers in the game, Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens (although HC Todd Monken’s history with him could change things) and Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, will not become new roster members, since players like them will demand in the $18-$20 million range. Even a reclamation project such as Conner McGovern from the Buffalo Bills will command $10 million a year.
Enter Sean Rhyan of the Green Bay Packers. His third-round rookie contract just ran out, and the Packers are in salary cap strain and are looking to unload some players possibly.
Both starting guards for the Browns, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, might not return. Bitonio might be ready to retire, and Teller hasn’t been offered a crumb for an extension yet, and no talks have been reported. Cleveland thought they had at least one backup in the stable when they drafted Michigan’s Zak Zinter a few years ago, but so far, he hasn’t been playing, and his development is in question.
Let’s look at what Rhyan can offer the Browns.
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C Sean Rhyan
Green Bay Packers
6’-5”, 321 pounds
Age: 25
2025 PFF rating: 59.0
NFL draft: 2022 Round 3, pick #92 (Packers)
Career Accolades: none
40 time: 5.25
2025 season: 11 starts, 808 offensive snaps
In the 2024 season, Rhyan started all 17 games and has played in 47 contests since he came into the league in 2022. He has been an extremely durable player, but he suffered a painful bone bruise in his knee in the playoff loss to the Chicago Bears. After tests were conducted, the prognosis was no ligament damage and a structurally sound knee.
He has versatility in that he is able to play both guard and center. He is still a young man at age 25 and has played in 47 NFL games. He was the starting tackle for three years while at UCLA, where he was voted First Team All-Pac 12 and named to the Freshman All-America Team.
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In his rookie season, he was suspended for six games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, which ended his season.
His snap count for this past year is incredible and demonstrates his ability to play with nicks and various ailments and still show up on Sundays. This year, he had 808 snaps and 963 the year before. Rhyan has long arms with a massive frame. He is good at pulling and taking out linebackers at the second level.
He is a bit raw in technical aspects and will overextend occasionally. But what the Browns will be getting in Edwards is an aggressive guard with great mobility. He is an exceptional player and will come cheaply. He made $1.36 million in 2025.
He can be dominant and a strong run blocker, but he needs work on pass protection. In 2025, he allowed only one sack and 27 pressures and had five penalties.
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Projection: Three years, $13 million
How do you feel about the Browns spending free agent money on interior offensive linemen this offseason? Do you think it’s a good use of money or should it be spent elsewhere?
Share your Browns NFL free agency thoughts in the comment section below
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