Spencer Fano is preparing for his first NFL season with the Cleveland Browns. The rookie offensive lineman has a major challenge ahead of him. Especially with the Browns relying on young players to help protect their quarterback.

Fano isn't facing that challenge alone, either. Austin Barber is also entering his first season, and the two rookies are expected to play important roles along Cleveland's offensive line. Despite the pressure that comes with the responsibility, Fano is embracing the opportunity.

“I'm so excited. Me and Austin have really had the same mindset ever since coming in here which is we've just been trying to get better every day and find our role.”

That mentality could serve both players well. Rookie offensive linemen face an enormous learning curve in the NFL, and mistakes can have immediate consequences for the quarterback behind them.

For Fano and Barber, finding their roles and developing quickly will be crucial. If they can establish themselves as reliable blockers, they could become important pieces of Cleveland's offense.

Spencer Fano and the Browns' Success Could Be Determined by Deshaun Watson

The Browns' success could ultimately hinge on another player entirely. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently suggested that Cleveland has enough talent on both sides of the ball to compete for the playoffs, but Deshaun Watson's performance could determine whether that happens.

Fowler believes that if Watson can improve from poor to passable, Cleveland could be in decent shape during Todd Monken's first season. That puts significant pressure on the veteran quarterback to deliver.

If Watson succeeds, Fano and the rest of Cleveland's young offensive pieces could have an opportunity to grow within a winning team. If he struggles, however, the Browns could find themselves fighting an uphill battle from the very beginning.

Written by

Joseph Nithin