Rewind to 2023. The Cleveland Browns’ offensive line had just been rated #3 in the NFL. Part of the reason was their O-Line coach, Bill Callahan. Almost every starter missed very few games. Lastly, their players were just plain good.
Last year, that same lineup for the Browns started Week 1. The only exception was that Dawand Jones started at left tackle in the spot once occupied by Jed Wills. That was considered an upgrade.
The Browns came out of last season with their offensive line ranked with a new number: #31. Ouch. Cleveland GM Andrew Berry decided that this group was his priority during the offseason.
Gone were OT Cam Robinson and Cornelius Lucas, who are both still looking for a job. Free agents included RT Jack Conklin, RG Wyatt Teller, and C Ethan Pocic. Teller is the only one who has signed on with a new club so far.
Signed in free agency are OG Zion Johnson, C/OG Elgton Jenkins, and Berry re-signed OG Teven Jenkins. RT Tytus Howard was obtained in a trade with the Houston Texans. The Browns came into this year’s NFL draft with certain positions of need that had to be addressed, and the offensive line was still on the list.
When Cleveland was on the clock with the #9 pick, Berry had his choice of offensive tackles and selected Spencer Fano of Utah. Then in Round 3, Berry traded back into the round and took OT Austin Barber of Florida. Then, in Round 5, Alabama center Parker Brailsford was taken.
Brailsford was born in Mesa, Arizona, and went to Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. This particular school has sent a dozen players to the NFL over the years. He played football and participated in track, where he was 6’-2” and weighed 265 pounds. He has always been a lover of lifting weights.
He began playing football at age seven. His father is Phil Brailsford, and he has two older brothers.
Helping others in the community is already a trait. With a portion of his NIL money, Brailsford took 10 underprivileged youth in Tuscaloosa and their families from the Boys and Girls Club on a Christmas shopping trip. He provided each child with a $100 Target gift card.
Like a lot of people his age, his hobbies are video games, and he has the ability to draw. He has also picked up cutting hair and was known as the team barber when he was with Washington.
He participated in the shot put with a best throw of 41’, 9” and was only a few inches shy of qualifying for state. He also threw the discus with a personal best of 118’, 4”.
He got scholarship offers from Washington, Michigan State, Arizona, USC, Colorado, Oregon State, BYU, Kansas State, Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, New Mexico, and Northern Arizona. He chose Washington and was redshirted. In 2023, he earned a starting position and played in all 15 games. He played two games at right guard and the remainder at center.
His head coach left Washington and was hired as the head coach at Alabama. Brailsford made the decision to follow his coach, entered the portal, and then transferred to Bama for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, where he started 27 games at center over the two years. He was voted Captain in his final year.
The Browns’ newest offensive lineman is a thoughtful and respectful person, soft-spoken, and has a history of being prepared in the game and also in life. It’s what most centers are made of. He is major confident and willing to lead by volume. Great communicator and a film junkie. Consistency is his calling card. He will work quietly and hard, which personifies the Cleveland area.
Can get off the snap quickly. His feet never stop moving. He is able to handle twist moves and delayed blitzes. He is rarely caught guessing at the point of attack. It seems like his head is always on a swivel, looking for the next man to hit. His pass sets are very controlled and clean. He is a finisher.
Brailsford can get to the next level, and he remains engaged. His low pad level helps with leverage, and he shows some K9 in him. He will play to the whistle and fight with larger defensive tackles. Very good puller and can cover ground.
Give it up for the Trench Dawgs 😤⚡️#USvsUS pic.twitter.com/ZCZniIBXDR
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) December 7, 2023
He will give up size and be overwhelmed by much larger DTs. In fact, defensive tackles whose best effort is the bull rush can get square on him and walk him back. Has had a laundry problem with 17 penalties in three college seasons. Will sometimes lunge, which puts him off-balance. Has problems moving defenders in running downs that are much bigger. His 32” arms and nine-and-one-half-inch hands were below the norm to be effective on larger defensive tackles