During his time as the assistant offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns, Scott Peters took notice of Cole Strange while evaluating prospects for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Although Strange primarily played guard in college, Peters saw potential in his limited reps at center.
“I was familiar with him during the draft process. In Cleveland, we liked him and thought he showed promise at center,” Peters said. “He performed well at the Senior Bowl.
Obviously, he’s capable at guard too. It’s been great to see him back on the field. He’s a very athletic player, and it’s impressive how hard he’s worked to return after his injury.”
Alex Van Pelt, the Browns’ offensive coordinator at the time, also recognized Strange’s potential as a center. Peters attributed this to Strange’s athletic profile, describing him as quick, strong, and effective in space. “He has good initial movement and quickness.
He’s a smart player, and his athleticism really stands out,” Peters added.
Strange, who is returning to practice after a torn patellar tendon last December, is being considered for various positions along the interior offensive line.
However, given that all his NFL experience has been at guard, Peters explained that the focus during his return has been on center.
“For now, we’re concentrating on developing him at center since it’s a new challenge for him,” Peters said. “But he’ll definitely play both positions. We just wanted to get him comfortable with the ball in his hands.”
Since his return, Strange has participated in conditioning and individual drills as part of his acclimation process.
Head coach Jerod Mayo expressed optimism about Strange’s progress. “Cole has mostly been doing drills and conditioning, but he looks good,” Mayo said. “We ran some cross-field sprints recently, and he was leading the pack.
He’s definitely in shape, maybe thanks to fresh legs. It’s exciting to have him back.”
