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The Cleveland Browns have discovered that fourth-quarter magic cannot compensate for a broken offensive line. Todd Monken’s team has repeatedly found ways to win close games. However, its inability to protect the quarterback is becoming an increasingly dangerous weakness. With 38 sacks allowed through nine games, Cleveland leads the NFL in a category no contender wants to own. The solution may not be another expensive offensive tackle. Instead, general manager Andrew Berry should pursue a more attainable reinforcement: Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar. A reunion with Monken could give the Browns the blocking help they desperately need.
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Growing protection crisis
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Through the first nine weeks of 2026, Monken’s debut season in Cleveland has resembled an exhilarating yet harrowing ride. The Browns recovered from an opening blowout in Jacksonville and built a 5-2 record through several dramatic finishes. Andre Szmyt’s clutch kicking and Deshaun Watson’s late-game execution helped Cleveland repeatedly escape tight contests. However, that resilience has masked an escalating crisis in the trenches.
The problem became impossible to ignore in a humiliating Week 8 defeat in Pittsburgh. Watson was sacked eight times before entering concussion protocol. Shedeur Sanders took over against New Orleans in Week 9 and showed considerable poise. He threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Browns still lost in overtime. Cleveland is now 5-4. Its ability to protect whoever starts at quarterback could determine whether its playoff ambitions survive.
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Crying out for help
The cold reality of the trade market is that quality offensive tackles rarely become available in November. Contending teams protect their bookend blockers. Rebuilding franchises understandably demand substantial draft compensation for established starters. Berry cannot simply expect to find a plug-and-play tackle without surrendering valuable future assets.
Of course, doing nothing is not an acceptable alternative. Watson has already absorbed a brutal amount of punishment. Sanders was sacked five times against New Orleans despite his mobility. Cleveland also struggled to establish its ground game. They have managed just 95 rushing yards on 34 attempts against the Saints. That combination makes life unnecessarily difficult for any quarterback operating Monken’s offense.
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The Browns need additional protection without sacrificing their ability to attack downfield. One practical answer is adding a battle-tested inline tight end. He can align beside vulnerable tackles, chip edge rushers, and help establish the perimeter in the running game. That is where Kolar becomes particularly interesting.
Bringing Charlie Kolar in
The most sensible target is Kolar. Of course, Cleveland would have to negotiate with the Chargers rather than the Ravens. Los Angeles signed him to a three-year, $24.3 million contract in March after he spent his first four NFL seasons in Baltimore. That detail makes the proposed reunion particularly intriguing. Kolar already knows Monken’s offensive philosophy from their time together with the Ravens. He is also one of the league’s more accomplished blocking tight ends.
Kolar is not a marquee receiving acquisition. That is precisely why this move makes sense. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, he offers the size and strength to function as an effective inline blocker. He has also demonstrated that he can contribute as a receiver when called upon. Through six appearances with the Chargers this season, Kolar has recorded 13 receptions for 129 yards. His primary value to Cleveland, however, would come from what he can do before the ball even reaches the quarterback.
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Deploying Kolar alongside Harold Fannin Jr. could immediately improve the Browns’ offensive architecture. Fannin has shown that he can be an explosive receiving weapon. Forcing him to spend too many snaps handling difficult inline blocking assignments would be limiting. Kolar would give Monken a more dependable blocking option. That would allow Fannin to operate as a flex weapon and seam threat.
The two-tight-end combination could also create more favorable running lanes for Quinshon Judkins. Kolar’s ability to seal the edge would give Cleveland additional options in its outside-zone and play-action concepts.
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Make the deadline count
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There are legitimate obstacles. Kolar is under a multiyear contract. That makes him a more expensive acquisition than a typical rental. The Chargers would need a compelling offer to consider moving him. Cleveland should therefore avoid overpaying. Still, Berry must recognize that the cost of doing nothing could be even greater.
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The Browns do not need another headline-grabbing offensive weapon. They need a more functional offense that can protect its quarterback and establish the run. Kolar offers a realistic path toward achieving those goals while giving Monken a familiar, dependable piece. If Berry wants to keep Cleveland’s playoff hopes alive, this is the kind of targeted move he should pursue before the deadline.
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Related: Browns most to blame for crushing overtime loss to Saints
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
