It’s too early to judge the Cleveland Browns rookie class.
One three-day rookie minicamp provides glimpses, but not revelations. That being said, Mike Pettine addressed the one key feeling he has coming off a draft that added 12 players to the mix.
“The one thing, I think, [is] we’re very pleased [with] our depth,” Pettine said.
Especially on the offensive and defensive fronts, spots Pettine said "were problems" in 2014.
The offensive line situation was evident and well-chronicled. A group that started as one of the league’s best collapsed after center Alex Mack broke his leg. The Browns wound up using three different centers — two of whom had never snapped the ball in an NFL game before.
Paul McQuistan was the veteran signed to provide the ability to back up at different positions, but he didn’t work out. Nor did Nick McDonald.
Four of the linemen played every snap — Joel Bitonio, Joe Thomas, John Greco and Mitchell Schwartz — but one injury rippled far and wide.
To address that this season, the Browns drafted Cam Erving with the 19th overall pick. Erving played left tackle and center for Florida State last season, and he will be tested at right tackle and guard this offseason.
Clearly, investing a first-round pick for depth speaks to the need.
In March, Pettine said the defensive front was the one unit last season that did not live up to expectations — because of injury.
Armonty Bryant, Phil Taylor and John Hughes each missed 11 games to knee injuries. No lineman started all 16 games — Desmond Bryant was the highest with 15. Nine different linemen played.
In the offseason, the team made the defensive front a point of emphasis.
The Browns took nose tackle Danny Shelton with the 12th overall pick and traded up to get Xavier Cooper at the end of the third round.
The team gave Hughes a contract extension and signed Randy Starks.
That’s significant commitment to that group.
“As the normal NFL season wears on, for whatever reason, you’re going to have to rely on those guys that going into the season you probably thought you weren’t going to have to,” Pettine said. “I know we’ll feel much more comfortable this year at virtually every position about our depth.”
