What Does Drew Forbes’ Opt Out Mean For The Browns’ Right Guard Competition?

The Browns announced Wednesday that guard Drew Forbes and tackle Drake Dorbeck are opting out of the 2020 NFL season. 

Dorbeck, an undrafted rookie out of Southern Miss, signed with the Browns soon after the draft ended in April. He would’ve added depth at tackle.

Forbes, a 2018 sixth-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State, appeared in one game last season. This year, he was expected to compete with Wyatt Teller to be the Browns’ starting right guard. 

Without Forbes, the Browns’ competition at right right guard may widen. Rookie center Nick Harris and veteran tackle Chris Hubbard could step in as potential fill-ins.

Harris played two seasons each of guard and center at Washington. Hubbard has played tackle his entire professional career, but he wouldn’t be the first tackle to find success after switching to guard. Dolphins left guard Ereck Flowers, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract this offseason, struggled in four seasons at tackle before switching to guard. 

Guards Colby Gossett and Malcom Pridgeon and centers Evan Brown and Willie Wright could see more practice reps, too. But if no one from that group stands out, the Browns might consider signing a free agent lineman to add to the camp competition. Three-time Pro-Bowl guard Larry Warford opted out of the season on Tuesday, which hurts the free-agent pool. Warford was considered the top remaining free-agent guard. 

But the Browns can still choose from players like Josh Kline, a seven-year veteran with 77 starts under his belt. Notably, Kline played under Browns coach Kevin Stefanski when both men were with the Vikings last season. Kline has played at least 13 games in five of his seven NFL seasons. 

Kline isn’t the only of veteran guard still available on the free agency market. Players like John Jerry (106 career starts), Ted Larsen (88 career starts) and Ronald Leary (76 career starts) are also waiting for phone calls from teams in situations similar to Cleveland’s. 

Maybe Teller will still end up the starter. But the Browns seemed keen on an open competition at right guard this summer.

If the internal competition is dissatisfactory, Cleveland could turn to a veteran like Kline, Jerry, Larsen or Leary.