5 Cleveland Browns who could be gone after 2023 if they don’t step up
By Chad Porto
Nick Harris
The issue with Nick Harris falls directly on the fact that he’s either been hurt or highly ineffective when given the chance. A 2020 draft pick, Harris looked fine at times, especially at guard, but the 24-year-old was seen by Andrew Berry as the team’s long-term option at center. That seems to still be the case. The team moved on from J.C. Tretter to give Harris a shot, so there shouldn’t be any reason to think they won’t pass on re-signing Ethan Pocic either. Tretter was a much better center than Pocic and they moved on from Tretter.
Harris is the heir apparent with the squad at the moment, but if he goes into 2023 as the team’s starter, and stumbles, there’s no way he’s coming back in 2024. Luckily for Harris, the team has got to cut salary anywhere they can to get under the cap for 2023, so it’s unlikely Pocic is brought back regardless. That gives Harris an entire season to prove he can be a fit in the team’s scheme.
If the Browns can produce two highly-rated centers back to back there’s no reason to think that Harris can’t do the same. After all, he’s between the two best guards in the game, he has a Madden-like cheat code going on every snap. So if he blows it, there’s no way he’s coming back.