Cleveland Browns quarterback Kenny Pickett throws a pass during veterans minicamp in Berea,

BEREA, Ohio — All eyes have rightfully been on the Browns’ quarterback battle through the offseason program, and the same remained true on Thursday, the final day of mandatory minicamp.

But with the NFL’s summer break quickly approaching, there was a different position group I aimed to watch in this final practice: The defensive line.

While QB and the offense have a lot of question marks, the line is the “engine” of the defense, as coordinator Jim Schwartz likes to say.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass during veterans minicamp in Berea,

And while Myles Garrett is the star, the Browns leave the offseason program with questions at about every other spot.

The other starting edge rusher job should be an open competition between Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Ogbo Okoronkwo. On the interior, No. 5 overall pick Mason Graham has been getting first-team reps, but Mike Hall Jr. is still recovering from knee surgery and hasn’t been available. Will both be up to speed to start by the time the season begins?

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Luke Floriea (L) couldnt catch up to an overthrown pass defended by Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward in 11-on-11 during veterans minicamp in Berea,

But while there are questions, at least early on, it also looks like there’s depth.

So here’s what it was like spending the last day of the offseason program with the D-line.

Early individual work and Mason Graham

After a brief early special teams period, it was time for some early individual work.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett gives a salute after veterans minicamp in Berea.

Their first drill featured to linemen running at position coach Jacques Cesaire, with Cesaire pointing what direction they should go and the players having to make a quick decision and turn.

Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is between his quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (L) and Joe Flacco in 7-on7 during veterans minicamp in Berea,

Graham was up first, in drill that showed off his speed.

Cesaire said on Thursday that he’s continued to be impressed by Graham, a player he was well aware of two seasons ago during Michigan’s national title run.

Cleveland Browns running back Ahmani Marshall (L) and Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders run through a greeting during veterans minicamp in Berea,

“I remember telling our guys, there’s a kid at Michigan right now that that guy can move and he has a lot of rush moves and he has strong hands and we got to take a look at him,” Cesaire said. “And our guys were already on it. They’re like, yeah, we know. And as you start watching tape, watching tape, watching tape, you just start really liking a guy more and more and more and more and just start fitting the pieces together.”

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders (L) and Dillon Gabriel throw passes together during veterans minicamp in Berea.

Throughout rookie minicamp, mandatory minicamp and the voluntary portion of the offseason program, the Browns haven’t been shy throwing Graham in early for team reps. There’s been some growing pains as he goes from a read to an attack scheme, but the tools are there.

In drills with Cesaire, he’s looked incredibly coachable, taking on-field advice during bag, agility and sled drills, and implementing it in real time.

He’s also shown no quit — and yes, that also includes the second day of rookie minicamp when he vomited after a drill.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco throws a pass in 11-on-11 being chased by Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett during veterans minicamp in Berea,

“The thing I love about Mason, right, I think everybody heard he ate a little bit too much and he threw up that first day,” Cesaire said. “But what a lot of people are not talking about is that the kid finished, OK. He went back out there, puke and all, and finished the rep.

“But here’s a kid that every day he got better. Every day he came out here, he’s running to the ball as fast as he could. You see his rush game developing, you see him launching with hands. It’s going to be hard obviously coming from a read scheme, going to an attack scheme. But he’s done a really good job and he’s great in the room, extremely smart individual, hardworking. So I can’t wait to see him come out and play.”

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throws a pass during veterans minicamp in Berea,

11-on-11 as Alex Wright shines

After some bag drills that mostly featured Collins and Tryon-Shoyinka, as well as backups like Sam Kamara and Cameron Thomas, the Browns went to a quick defense only period before red zone 11-on-11.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Alex Wright and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett talks between reps during mandatory minicamp Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Berea.

The first team quarterback was Joe Flacco, and the line he went against featured Garrett (at Flacco’s right), Graham, Collins, and Wright on the other side.

In two plays that period, Wright broke through. While there’s no pads or real hitting, it was two excellent plays of Wright showing the disruption the Browns need opposite of Garrett.

Throughout these practice sessions, Wright’s length has been one of the things that has jumped out. At the 2022 combine, Wright had a 82 7/8-inch wingspan. As a rookie, he proved he could excel batting down passes at the line of scrimmage with five.

This offseason, he’s also worked at changing his body composition after missing most of 2024 due to a torn tricep, and seems to be off to a great start.

The second string D-line group was mixed up throughout team periods.

During red zone, it was (left to right, from the back of the defense) Thomas, Kamara, Briggs and Tryon-Shoyinka.

During the final 11-on-11 period of the day, the second group was Tryon-Shoyinka, Kamara, Thomas on the inside, and Okonokwo.

Myles Garrett the mentor

As is typical with Garrett, the 2023 NFL defensive player of the year, he didn’t take many individual reps in these practices.

Truthfully, he doesn’t need them. But his value isn’t in the reps: It’s in working with younger guys.

While third-year edge rusher Isaiah McGuire started the day on the bikes, he came over during some individual drills and was working on hand placement off to the side with Garrett.

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This is something we’ve seen Garrett do time and time again during his tenure, and especially during training camp practices, in order to help younger edge rushers.

It’s also just another example of his messy winter trade request being behind him and the team.

“I don’t even remember that,” Cesaire said. “That’s the first thing. The second thing, every player is entitled to their own opinion. If that’s how he felt at the time, that’s how he felt. People can change their minds.

“And obviously he’s here now, he’s happy, he’s engaged with the guys. He was working his butt off yesterday, so Myles is here. He’s all the way bought in. He loves what we’ve done with the defensive line and I know he can’t wait to get the season started.”