Zak Zinter

The Browns will deploy their first pick in this year’s draft, Spencer Fano, at left tackle, which officially locks offseason trade acquisition Tytus Howard into the right tackle job, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic confirms. Likewise, free agent signee Zion Johnson is entrenched in the left guard role, and Jackson says neither Johnson nor Howard will be moved from their respective spots unless there is an injury or unexpected development.

Given Howard’s experience at multiple positions on the offensive line and the fact that Fano worked on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons, it was theoretically possible Howard – the first major addition to the Browns’ O-line this year – would at least open his Cleveland tenure on the blind side (or even at one of the guard slots, depending on how the team’s offseason and draft unfolded). But the Johnson and Elgton Jenkins signings, Teven Jenkins re-up, and Fano decision have clarified the Browns’ wishes for their starting front.

While head coach Todd Monken recently stopped short of confirming Elgton Jenkins would man the center position, the nature of the former Packer’s contract (two years, $24MM) suggests he will start, and neither Teven Jenkins nor Johnson have experience at the pivot. Jackson confirms Elgton Jenkins is the presumptive starting center once he recovers from the lower leg fracture that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.

Therefore, Fano at LT, Johnson at LG, Elgton Jenkins at C, Teven Jenkins at RG, and Howard at RT appears to be the preferred alignment. Jackson does say Jenkins (who started just four games in ‘25, his first year with the club) is the right guard “for now,” thus leaving open the possibility he could be usurped by an incumbent player or yet another outside addition.

For instance, third-round rookie Austin Barber may push Teven Jenkins for RG duties, as Jackson notes. Cleveland made a significant move up the board on Day 2 of the draft to land Barber, who played both left and right tackle as a collegian. In addition to a possible guard battle with Teven Jenkins, Barber will vie for the swing tackle role along with Dawand Jones and KT Leveston.

Meanwhile, Luke Wypler and fifth-round rookie Parker Brailsford will battle each other for the backup center gig — Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says Brailsford actually has a real chance to win the starting job over Elgton Jenkins — and Kendrick Green is also in the mix for a job as an interior reserve. Zak Zinter, a third-round choice in 2024, saw minimal action last season, and Jackson suggests in a separate piece the Michigan product may no longer have a place on the roster. Zinter worked behind Johnson as the second-team LG in voluntary minicamp.