6 Cleveland Browns whose stock is down at 2021 Bye Week

2. Cleveland Browns LT Jedrick Wills

The offensive line was supposed to be a major strength of the 2021 Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, injuries, along with players not living up to expectations have weakened the group.

The unit is boosted by its tackles, Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, who are always among the highest ranking Browns when Pro Football Focus releases its weekly grades.

As for the tackle spots, well, it’s been a disaster.

Jack Conklin was injured for a good chunk of the season prior to the BYE, and then suffered a season ending injury against the Ravens.

The Browns lost  Chris Hubbard in Week 1, and Blake Hance, who admirably filled in during last season’s playoff win, has been asked to play way too much.

You can live with Hance struggling, though. He’s the seventh lineman. Jedrick Wills, though? He’s a former first-round pick–and there’s been a lot more bad than good in year two.

The Factory’s Chad Porto look at Wills prior to the Week 11 win against the Lions, noting how the No. 10 overall pick has fallen behind his draft class.

"“Since [Andrew]  Thomas was taken before the Browns were even on the board, it’s unfair to count him. We’re looking just at who was still on the board when Wills was taken. With that in mind, Mekhi Beckton (67.3), Tristan Wirfs (76.9), and Robert Hunt  (60.0) all have higher grades, and second round tackle, Ezra Cleveland is just .5 behind Wills (58.0). Thomas has a higher grade as well, making Wills technically fifth but as the Browns had no chance of taking him, it’s again unfair to include him.”"

Not the season you want from your supposed franchise left tackle.

Fortunately, he’s still young and it’s way too early to write him off.