4 players the Cleveland Browns can’t afford to lose in 2022

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, knocks Cleveland Browns running back Johnny Stanton (40) out of bounds during NFL football practice, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Berea, Ohio.Brownscamp12 18
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, knocks Cleveland Browns running back Johnny Stanton (40) out of bounds during NFL football practice, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Berea, Ohio.Brownscamp12 18 /
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Cleveland Browns Chris Hubbard (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Chris Hubbard

We already saw what happens to the offensive line when you have to play some guys out of key positions. Blake Hance was a good guard for the Browns in 2020 but he wasn’t quick enough to play right tackle. Against a defensive tackle he is, and that’s why he was a great guard in relief in 2020, but against defensive ends, he just wasn’t that guy.

The Browns had no other options to replace the injured Jack Conklin with, so Hance played more than he should’ve at right tackle. Normally, Conklin would have been replaced by Chris Hubbard, who can play right tackle, but the Browns lost him early in the year.

While he missed an entire year, and he’s probably not going to be as good in 2022 as he was in 2020, the team will need his ability to spot start. The team is going to have a new starting center, a 30+-year-old left guard, and a recently injured and recovered right tackle in the final year of his contract.

To say the offensive line could have a lot of movement this season is an understatement. I would predict with Joel Bitonio’s age, the uncertainty at center, and not knowing how Conklin will recover, this could be the year the Browns’ offensive line looks more patched together than ever before.

That’s not even factoring in Jedrick Wills and his stagnant growth. It’s very possible we see five if not 10 different combinations of starters on the offensive line. Hubbard is a glue guy who can make patch-job offensive lines acceptable.