CLEVELAND — Offensive linemen will be among the positions to take the field for workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday.
With that in mind, let's take a look at five offensive linemen the Cleveland Browns could be keeping an eye on in Indianapolis.
Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Currently, the Cleveland Browns are scheduled to bring back all five of their starting offensive linemen for the third consecutive season, although that could change. Dating back to the end of the 2021 season, center J.C. Tretter has stood out as a potential cap casualty, with the Browns possessing the ability to save more than $8 million by waiving the final year of his contract.
Should Cleveland cut Tretter, it would find itself in need of a new starting center. And if that's the case, then it would be tough to find a better candidate than Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum, who has already drawn favorable comparisons to Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro Jason Kelce.
Charles Cross, Mississippi State
While the Browns restructured the final year of Jack Conklin's contract to keep him in Cleveland, there's no telling when he'll be available to play as he continues to recover from a ruptured patella tendon. As a result, the Browns could find themselves with an immediate need at offensive tackle for the 2022 season.
A 2021 All-SEC first-team selection, Mississippi State's Charles Cross projects as a starting left tackle in a zone-blocking scheme -- similar to the one that Cleveland currently implements. And although the Browns have already committed to Jedrick Wills Jr. remaining at left tackle, those plans could conceivably change based on how their offseason plays out.
Daniel Faalele, Minnesota
While Linderbaum and Cross are both strong prospects, the reality remains that Cleveland isn't likely to use its first-round pick on an offensive lineman. Rather, the Browns are more likely to focus on the unit in the later rounds.
If that's the case, Minnesota's Daniel Faalele stands out as one of the draft's most intriguing prospects. Possessing athleticism not often seen for a player listed at 6-foot-9 and 380 pounds, the 2021 first-team All-Big Ten selection could develop into a long-term replacement for Conklin at right tackle.
Bernhard Rainmann, Central Michigan
Like Cross, Bernhard Rainmann projects as a starting offensive tackle in a zone rushing attacking. And while at 24-years-old, the 2021 first-team All-MAC selection may be older than the Browns prefer their prospects to be, his age could also make him more suited to immediately step into a starting role.
Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
Of all the injuries that Cleveland suffered last season, one of the more underrated was Chris Hubbard's torn triceps, which cost him the bulk of the 2021 campaign. And with Hubbard set to hit free agency, it seems conceivable that his time with the Browns has come to an end.
As a result, Cleveland could find itself in need of a swing tackle, who also possesses the versatility to play guard -- just as Hubbard during his time with the Browns. A product of Cleveland's St. Ignatius High School, Kentucky's Darian Kinnard is the type of prospect who can play multiple positions on the offensive line.