With the retention of Greg Robinson -- a great bit of news from Combine week -- the Browns can officially boast that they're in line to return all five starters up front.
As things go in this sport, everything starts and ends in the trenches. That means the first point of this piece is vitally important. It's also key because, well, there isn't much else out there.
For the sake of preparation, though, let's take a look at the upcoming offerings up front, which also includes the tight end position (where the Browns are also returning all three of their guys).
Who's back
TE David Njoku - 16 games (14 starts), 56 receptions, 639 yards, four touchdowns
TE Darren Fells - 16 games (11 starts), 11 receptions, 117 yards, three touchdowns
TE Seth DeValve - 13 games (four starts), five receptions, 74 yards, one touchdown
LT Greg Robinson - 16 games (eight starts)
LG Joel Bitonio - 16 games (16 starts)
C JC Tretter - 16 games (16 starts)
RG Kevin Zeitler - 16 games (16 starts)
RT Chris Hubbard - 16 games (16 starts)
G Austin Corbett - 11 games (one start)
T Desmond Harrison - Eight games (eight starts)
OL Kyle Kalis - Three games (zero starts)
T David Bright - Did not play
T Brad Seaton - Did not play
OL Kyle Friend - Did not play
Unrestricted Free Agents
OL Earl Watford – 13 games
Restricted Free Agents
TE Orson Charles - 13 games (two starts), three receptions, 23 yards
Top TEs and OL available (rankings from **NFL.com's Top 101 free agents**)
18. T Daryl Williams, Panthers
The loss of Williams to a knee injury significantly hindered the Panthers last season, and they're going to have to address the right tackle position by either re-signing him or looking elsewhere. He's the best tackle in a thin market, but that is also dependent upon how well he recovers.
20. TE Jared Cook, Raiders
Cook had his best year of his career in season No. 10, catching 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns. A lot of that had to do with the fact defenses were keying on stopping Amari Cooper and whoever filled the second receiver role, leaving Cook open over the middle. He and Derek Carr had an excellent time together, which should lure a team into overpaying for Cook, who turns 32 in April.
21. G Rodger Saffold, Rams
Saffold is the best guard and, perhaps, the best lineman on the market. He's extremely versatile, massive and can move in space like a ballerina.
25. T Trent Brown, Patriots
Brown didn't earn a great Pro Football Focus grade, but in the matchups that count, he performed very well. New England has an excellent offensive line coach in Dante Scarnecchia and can probably fill a void left by a potential Brown departure because of Scarnecchia, but his film was pretty solid.
27. C Mitch Morse, Chiefs
Morse hasn't gotten the credit he deserves and he missed five games last season due to injury, but he's a solid center who's still in the beginning of his prime at 26 years old.
29. C Matt Paradis, Broncos
Paradis has been a bright spot on a dim offensive line (excluding Garett Bolles) for the last few years. Losing him, at 29 years old, would be very disappointing for a franchise that has had protection issues, even with the skill of Paradis.
31. T Ja'Wuan James, Dolphins
James was decent for a while in Miami but never anything better, and he'll likely benefit from a thin tackle market.
58. T Ramon Foster, Steelers
Foster is a seasoned veteran who could get more money than a tackle his age would typically get, thanks to the aforementioned lack of quality prospects.
68. T D.J. Fluker, OL
Fluker had a nice resurgence in Seattle after failing to live up to the hype in both New York and San Diego. At 27, he still carries plenty of value.
71. G Quinton Spain, Titans
Spain was sometimes lost among a good offensive line, but there were other times where he was a swinging door. He's still better than average, though, and should get paid fairly well.
80. TE Tyler Eifert, Bengals
Eifert's injuries have eliminated so much of his potential success, and it seems as though the Bengals and Eifert might be parting ways. When healthy, he's an excellent tight end. We haven't seen that for some time, though, because he hasn't been healthy.
90. G James Carpenter, Jets
As a guard, Carpenter has been serviceable but nothing more. That probably won't stop a team from taking their shot at making him into the starter the first-round pick has always tried to become.
98. OL J.R. Sweezy, Seahawks
Sweezy hasn't been the same since an injury early in his time with the Buccaneers but has still been serviceable. He'll land somewhere at a decent number.
