Cleveland Browns Shouldn't Forget About Wyatt Teller

Last summer, it seemed as if right guard was the only question mark on the Browns revamped offensive line.

Wyatt Teller had other plans.

In just 11 games, Teller was voted first team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus and second team All-Pro by the Associated Press.

Teller is on the final year of his contract and will be able to test unrestricted free agency after this season. The Cleveland Browns need to prevent that from happening.

The Teller Effect

In 2020, Baker Mayfield was sacked just 27 times. Comparatively, he was sacked 40 times in 2019.

Now, the arrival of rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills, All-Pro Jack Conklin and offensive line guru Bill Callahan helped things, but there's no denying that Teller played his role and played it well.

The Browns went 2-3 in games without Teller last season. The two wins were the miracle in Cincinnati and the forgettable game against the New York Giants. The record without him proves that Teller is a key factor in having a fully-functional unit to protect Mayfield.

In the wide zone offense that head coach Kevin Stefanski deploys, Teller's athletic ability was felt last year. It's a scheme that capitalizes on pulling the guards, which made for some memorable pancakes by Teller last season.

The Browns ranked fifth in pass protection and second in run blocking in the entire NFL last season.

Teller Wants To Stay

There's always something special about the guys that just want to be in Cleveland. General manager Andrew Berry has done a good job at finding them and securing them longterm. Teller should be one of those guys.

"I love Cleveland. I love the fans. I love the city. That's the personal, business side of it," Teller said. "They work with my agent and he kind of leaves me out of it. Right now, the best thing I can do is focus on football."

After being acquired via trade right before Freddie Kitchens's debut as head coach, Teller's 2019 was a somewhat forgettable one. He was merely a moving piece in a dysfunctional unit. However, he stayed the course, and it would be nice to see him rewarded for that.

With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt already locked up longterm, and a Mayfield extension looming in the shadows, keeping Teller in brown and orange seems like a no-brainer to keep this high-powered offense running— literally.