When Browns coach Hue Jackson arrived in Cleveland last year, he watched game film of the team he inherited and knew the pass protection had to improve for his offense to succeed.
But, statistically, it got worse.
The Browns tied for second in the NFL in most sacks allowed in 2015 with 53. Then in 2016, Jackson’s first season, they surrendered 66 sacks, 17 more than any other team.
The poor protection was a major reason the Browns went 1-15 last season, and it led them to invest heavily in the interior of their offensive line as free agency kicked off Thursday.
The Browns reached agreements with two unrestricted free agents who’ll be counted on to start right away: former Cincinnati Bengals right guard Kevin Zeitler and former Green Bay Packers center J.C. Tretter. They also signed starting left guard Joel Bitonio to a contract extension through the 2022 season.
Browns 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas couldn’t contain his excitement, tweeting, “Here we go Brownies, here we go!! Woof, woof!!!!”
Zeitler, 26, was considered the top offensive lineman and one of the most coveted players at any position in free agency this year. He was listed second on ProFootballFocus.com’s list of the top 50 free agents and eighth on NFL.com’s list of the top 101 free agents.
His five-year contract is reportedly worth $60 million and includes $31.5 million guaranteed. He became the highest-paid guard in the NFL.
Zeitler will reunite with Jackson, who served as the offensive coordinator of the Bengals from 2014-15. He started 71 of the 72 regular-season games in which he appeared with the Bengals, who drafted him in the first round (No. 27 overall) in 2012. He started all 16 games in each of the past two seasons.
“I think Kevin is one of the premier right guards in football,” Jackson said in a news release. “I’ve spent time with him before in Cincinnati. I believe he’s going to be a really good football player for us at a position of need, and I think he’ll do a great job.”
Acquiring Zeitler could make incumbent starting right guard John Greco expendable. Greco, who’ll turn 32 on March 24, and Bitonio are coming back from Lisfranc injuries.
Tretter, 26, has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but he’ll fill the Browns’ urgent need for a starting center if healthy. Cameron Erving, a first-round pick in 2015, struggled last season at center, and the coaches moved him to right tackle for the finale to see how he would fare at another position.
Tretter’s three-year deal is reportedly worth $16.75 million, including $10 million guaranteed.
Tretter started all seven games in which he appeared last season before suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament. He had knee surgery in January.
Tretter started 10 of the 31 regular-season games in which he appeared for the Packers. They drafted him in the fourth round in 2013. According to PFF, he has played 1,001 snaps in his career, about the equivalent of one season of starting.
PFF ranked Tretter 27th on its list of the top 50 free agents. NFL.com ranked him 70th on its list of the top 101 free agents.
“J.C. is a very athletic center who played in Green Bay and did a good job for them,” Jackson said in the release. “He had a little injury history, but comes here healthy and ready to go. We’re happy to have him.”
Bitonio, 25, is one of the organization’s best young players, and it rewarded him with a five-year extension worth $51 million, including $23 million guaranteed. He had been scheduled to enter the final season of his rookie contract in the fall.
The only risk in spending big money on Bitonio lies in his injury history.
Bitonio suffered a Lisfranc injury this past season and missed 11 games. The Browns expect him to be fully recovered by the start of the 2017 season. He also missed six games in 2015 with two ankle injuries.
A second-round draft pick in 2014, Bitonio has started all 31 games in which he has appeared.
“I am really pumped to be here to try to help build this up and turn the Browns around,” Bitonio said in a news release.
With Zeitler, Tretter, Bitonio and Thomas, the Browns now have obvious starters at every position on the offensive line except for right tackle. Incumbent starter Austin Pasztor became an unrestricted free agent Thursday.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.