We're less than two weeks out from the Browns' first training camp under head coach Hue Jackson.
As such, we'll dive deep into each position group and analyze what we'll be looking for when practice resumes July 29.
We previewed Cleveland's quarterbacks on Monday, the running backs Tuesday and the wide receivers on Wednesday. So let's dive into the tight ends now.
THE TIGHT ENDS
The cast
Gary Barnidge
E.J. Bibbs
Connor Hamlett
Randall Telfer
Seth DeValve
J.P. Holtz
What happened at OTAs? Before a sports hernia surgery sidelined him near the end of OTAs, Barnidge looked sharp as he continues to build on a breakout season in 2015, one that earned the veteran his first trip to the Pro Bowl. There's also a buzz that seems to surround Seth DeValve, whom the Browns drafted in the fourth round of Princeton, and his potential to create matchup problems for opposing defenses. Bibbs, Hamlett, Telfer and Holtz, who signed with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent, also all showed flashes during workouts.
Under the radar: This is tricky because outside of Barnidge, the remainder of the Browns' tight ends still have yet to really prove themselves. But keep an eye on Bibbs, who was the lone Brown to make the team as an undrafted free agent last season. The same goes for Hamlett, who joined the team last December, and Telfer, the former sixth-round draft pick looking to bounce back after a foot surgery sidelined him in 2015.
Variables to consider: While Barnidge breakout season earned him a Pro Bowl trip last year, the Browns are in search of depth at the position, including a reliable No. 2 option. It should also be interesting to see how many tight ends Cleveland keeps roster and how they might be used in Hue Jackson's offense, which — while at Cincinnati — saw Bengals TE Tyler Eifert have a career season with 615 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Quote to note: "I think every position is going to be really featured because he's going to make it where every defense is going to have to focus on every position. You can't focus on, 'We're going to shut down the tight end,' or 'We're just going to shut down the receiver' because then everybody else is going to open up. I think that it going to be dictated per week." — Gary Barnidge when asked about the role of the TE in Jackson's offense How many were kept last year?: Four on the 53-man roster
