In 2018, the Browns had one of the league’s best middle cores on the offensive line with Joel Bitonio at left guard, Kevin Zeitler manning the right guard spot, and J.C. Tretter at center.
Then Zeitler was traded to the New York Football Giants straight up for defensive end Olivier Vernon, and the offensive line hasn’t been the same since.
Then-GM John Dorsey thought he had an ace in his pocket with second-round draft pick Austin Corbett waiting in the wings to fill the void. Besides, Zeitler was about to turn 29 while Corbett was a young man ready to become 24 early in the season.