Browns Offensive Line Faces Major Shift as Key Guard Wyatt Teller Departs
Cleveland Browns right guard Wyatt Teller, a three-time Pro Bowler, has announced his departure from the team as the Browns embark on a significant overhaul of their offense. The announcement, made via an Instagram post on Wednesday, signals a major shift for a unit already facing considerable uncertainty.
Teller and his wife, Carly, expressed their gratitude for their time in Cleveland, with Teller stating, “While we are excited and look forward to what the future holds, Cleveland will always have a special place in our hearts.” The post highlighted the personal significance of their years in the city, noting that he proposed to his wife on the stadium’s 50-yard line and welcomed both of their children while living in Northeast Ohio.
The departure of Teller, who started in 94 of his 101 career games with the Browns after being traded from the Buffalo Bills in 2019, comes on the heels of a similar announcement from tight end David Njoku, further compounding the challenges facing the Browns as they rebuild their offensive roster.
The Browns’ need to address the offensive line was already apparent, and Teller’s exit intensifies the situation. The team is now facing the prospect of replacing all five starting linemen. This comes as new head coach Todd Monken takes the reins, and General Manager Andrew Berry has publicly stated the team’s intention to build a younger roster.
Teller’s 2025 season was hampered by a calf injury initially sustained in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers and then re-aggravated in Week 17, ultimately leading to him being placed on injured reserve. Prior to the injury, the Browns had begun rotating Teller with Teven Jenkins, signaling a potential shift in the team’s plans even before his health issues arose.
Despite his injury-shortened season, Teller had been a mainstay on the Browns’ offensive line for seven years, earning three Pro Bowl selections and multiple All-Pro honors. However, his performance metrics in 2025 revealed a decline, ranking 57th out of 65 qualifying guards in ESPN’s pass block win rate and 40th out of 62 in run block win rate.
While Teller had expressed a desire to retire as a Brown, he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future when placed on injured reserve, stating, “I don’t want it to be [my last game], but if it is, it is. I enjoyed my time.”
The Browns’ decision to allow Teller to enter free agency aligns with Berry’s broader strategy of roster turnover, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The team will now turn its attention to finding replacements for Teller and the other departing offensive linemen, as well as rebuilding their wide receiver position group, after Jerry Jeudy’s underwhelming performance in the 2025 season.
The situation with starting left tackle Cam Robinson remains unclear, with the team potentially viewing him as a depth piece if he returns. Meanwhile, left guard Joel Bitonio is still contemplating retirement, with a decision date set for March 10.
