Heralded as one of the breakout teams in the NFL in the 2019 season, the Cleveland Browns did not reach expectations and finished the season with a mediocre 6-10 record.

While that disappointing play mostly due to an inconsistent defense and a sophomore slump by franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield, an underrated factor in that season was uncertainty within the offensive line, particularly at the tackle spot.

While they had one of the stronger offensive lines in the league just a few years ago, the Browns dropped to 23rd in Pro Football Focus' annual offensive line ranking. The play of Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, and Kevin Zeitler was as stellar as usual, but a drop in pass protection and bottom-10 run blocking placement were the reasons for the Browns falling in the rankings.

The Browns did make a lot of moves this offseason, including signing Jack Conklin away from the Titans. While that signing is a good start to improving the unit, the offensive line could still use some depth and youth to continue to be good for years to come.

With the tenth pick in the draft, the Browns could look into improving said offensive line depth by drafting Tristan Wirfs of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The offensive tackle has elite body composition as a two-time high school state wrestling champion who gets out of his stance quickly and has the lateral speed to make the NFL adjustment a smooth one.

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Zac Jackson of The Athletic loves the idea of the Browns picking up Wirfs with the tenth pick, saying that he could learn under Bitonio before perhaps replacing him.

“Part of the reason I’m sticking with Wirfs for this exercise is that I believe the Browns will love his athleticism and think that otherwise having a veteran line —  and specifically having Joel Bitonio next to their left tackle — can help the rookie get comfortable and learn some of the nuances of the position right away.”

Wirfs was the biggest reason that Iowa was ranked sixth in PFF's college football offensive line gradings, as his elite 90.5 grade was the fifth-highest amongst qualifying NCAA offensive tackles.

While the Browns could patch together a solid offensive line, who could earn an average ranking without addressing the unit in the early rounds of the draft, acquiring stud athletes like Wirfs could improve the running game, give the Browns one of the elite protection units in the NFL, and help Baker Mayfield make better decisions with fewer defenders in the backfield.