Rookie Spencer Fano faces a trial by fire against elite pass rushers, while a revitalized Dawand Jones pushes for the starting role in a high-stakes training camp battle for the Cleveland Browns starting LT job.
Todd Monken didn't even hesitate on night one of the NFL Draft when he was asked where No. 9 overall pick Spencer Fano would play on the Cleveland Browns o-line.
“Left tackle," he asserted at the time.
Fast forward three-plus months, and that plan still remains for Monken and company. It may just be taking a little longer than expected, though.
Through the first eight days of Browns' training camp, Fano has been in a steady every other day rotation with 2023 fourth-round pick Dawand Jones at the starting left tackle spot.
Understandably, Fano has experienced his fair share of growing pains on his days with the starters. Such is life when you're predominantly lining up across from two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse on most snaps.
Still, it leaves questions about Fano's readiness to truly start at the position by Week 1 of the season. Monken isn't ruling out the possibility that Jones actually wins the job leading into the season, in order to give Fano more time to get up to speed.
“I think there’s a world in a number of spots where a player could end up starting there as you get the other players up to speed,” Monken said on Thursday. “We’re not really there yet."
It's understandable that Fano would need some time to get fully acclimated to left tackle in the NFL. First, because it's a role he hasn't played consistently since his freshman year of college at Utah. He moved to right tackle in the two years that followed, but offers some valuable versatility to play both sides.
There's also the simple fact that adjusting to the NFL isn't always a smooth transition. It can take time to really feel up to speed, especially at his position.
Meanwhile, Jones is a three-year veteran who has played in 24 games and made 20 starts combined at both tackle spots. Injuries have derailed the early stage of his career, but he's finally healthy and has NFL experience Fano simply doesn't.
"Let’s start with Dawand. He’s in the best shape of his life. I mean, he’s out there competing, talking smack, seems to be in a really good place that we want to reward that," Monken said of the Ohio State product. "And we also want to bring Spencer along at a pace we feel like is the best apt to build his confidence. And I think Georg Warhop is doing a great job with that.”
Warhop, in his sixth season working with Monken in some capacity, is on the same page as the Browns head man. He doesn't feel any sort of pressure to name a starter right now and like any position at training camp, they're going to make either Jones or Fano earn the job.
"I think it's to our benefit to let those guys compete to see who's going to be the left tackle," said the Browns o-line coach. "There's no greater way to increase the player's production than when he's in competition."
There would certainly be some external concerns that come with Fano, as a top 10 pick, potentially starting his career as a backup. Monken and Warhop can't worry about that, though. For them, it's about choosing the player who gives Cleveland the best chance to win.
"So we need Spencer to get used to playing on the left side and develop him," added Warhop. "We need Dawand to be the best version of himself. If he happens to be our starting left tackle, we need him to be that ... They're both improving. They're both going to be good players because of it."
