A position by position rundown of the Cleveland Browns as the offseason heads toward the combine and free agency:
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Under contract: Joe Thomas, Mitchell Schwartz, Vinston Painter, Michael Bowie, Andrew McDonald.
Free agents: None, though Schwartz has just one year left on his rookie deal.
The good: Thomas remains one of the league’s best. He’s never missed a snap, plays hard during every play and has been to the Pro Bowl in every one of his eight seasons. He is a rare combination of talent, smarts and dependability, and when his career ends he’ll be introduced in Canton five years later.
The bad: Schwartz gets mixed reviews. Fans get on him and he gives up sacks, but coaches like him. Pro Fooball Focus had him as the 33rd-ranked tackle in the league, and his seven sacks given up were tied for sixth highest in the league (Thomas gave up two). Schwartz had 22 QB hurries, which ranked 25th. In run blocking, PFF had Schwartz ranked 70th among tackles.
The money: Thomas is set to be paid $8.8 million, $8.3 million and $8.8 million the next three seasons, when his cap cost is $10.2 million, $9.5 million and $10 million. That’s not an insignificant cost, and is worth watching if Thomas’ play falls off. There’s no real reason to believe that will happen, though. If anyone deserves to retire as a Cleveland Brown, it’s Thomas.
Free-agency need: Depth is always a priority on the offensive line, but GM Ray Farmer has to do better than he did a year ago when his depth signing was Paul McQuistan.
Draft priority: It will be interesting to see how the Browns view Schwartz. It would be safe to say that if the best player on the board in the first three rounds is a right tackle, the Browns will take him.
