Will these 3 returning Cleveland Browns players help the team?

The Cleveland Browns brought back three little-used players from 2022 but will any of them help the team?

Strapped for cash and needing to fill roster spots, the Cleveland Browns have brought back former players Michael Dunn, Thomas Graham Jr., and Ben Stille. All of whom were a part of the team in some form or capacity in 2022. As the team preps for the upcoming draft next weekend, the Browns have to find some inexpensive additions to help solidify the team.

Dunn was part of the Browns’ 2020 playoff team and played well in relief for the year. Now at 29, Dunn may be able to replace Chris Hubbard as the utility lineman on the team. Dunn started 2 games in 2022 and played an additional six others, his return was expected considering his familiarity with the system. He’s an average pass-blocker and run-blocker but on a good day, he could be next-level good, though not for long as his biggest issue is his inconsistency.

Graham was a former Chicago Bears player who was born just a few weeks before the Cleveland Browns relaunched in 1999. He played in seven games, but never started but did earn a respectable coverage score of 71.3 by PFF in the limited action he saw.

Stille was a rookie in 2022, and played seven total games between the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns, even getting a start after arriving in Cleveland. He was better at pass rushing and will need to bulk up a bit if he wants to be a full-time starter, as he’s just under 290 lbs. His 6’5 frame, however, will make him an interesting piece for the defensive line.

Which of these returning Cleveland Browns players will make the biggest impact?

The Cleveland Browns will likely see a lot of issues with both sets of lines. The defensive line is still lacking a lot of talent. Yes, Myles Garrett is the top dog, no pun intended, and Dalvin Tomlinson should be good, but everyone is an unproven, untested commodity. The team may have a great defensive line, but they may have a bad defensive line. We just don’t know.

For the offensive line, the issue is injury and age. Joel Bitonio may fall off any day now, and Wyatt Teller has a nasty habit of being bad against the pass rush and costing the team a lot of penalties each year. Not to mention you have Jack Conklin who seems like a sprained toe away from retiring, Jedrick Wills and his inability to take the next step, plus we’re not entirely sure Ethan Pocic will pull off another great season in 2023 as he did in 2022.

So with all that said, I think it’s far more likely that Dunn makes an impact over Stille. I think Stille will get a shot eventually, but Andrew Berry is going to lean on the draft busts he’s peppering the line with. So even if Stille does get a shot, it’ll likely not be for long.

While Dunn will have an opportunity eventually to fill in somewhere on the offensive line.