Cleveland Browns Sign Blake Hance To 2-Year Deal

“Some guy called Blake” was how Mayfield referred to Hance in a post-game interview.

Everyone knew who he was when Hance took the field and played out of position against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kendall Lamm and Jedrick Wills both incurred injuries, forcing the NFL guard to play left tackle.

Hance played it like a guard, pushing rushers outside and giving Baker Mayfield enough time to operate.

Offensive line coach, Bill Callahan, might incorporate that technique into his 2021 lessons, as it proved quite effective.

Hance’s grit and courage earned him a bit of legendary status and a new 2-year contract from the Browns.

How Hance Made It To Cleveland 

Blake Hance spent the previous two years bouncing around practice squads.

He was projected to be an NFL guard, but he was the starting left tackle at Northwestern University in his senior season.

Kevin Stefanski probably knew that when he threw Hance in there against the Chiefs.

But it doesn’t diminish the job Hance did with no practice and barely a week of NFL game experience.

Buffalo signed the former Wildcat as an undrafted free agent in 2019 but shuffled him off before preseason camp.

Hance was picked up by the Redskins, who cut him after the 2019 training camp.

Jacksonville signed him to their practice squad, where he spent the rest of the season.

The New York Jets picked him up for their practice squad in September, before the Browns came calling.

Cleveland was dealing with Covid-related roster concerns and needed Hance to fill a roster spot.

But thanks to the virus issues, Hance only got one virtual practice in before gameday.

Mayfield’s postgame interview helped elevate Hance’s story to 15-minutes-of-legend status.

But it was Hance’s solid play and clutch performance that endeared him to Stefanski and Andrew Berry.

Now he joins the league’s best offensive line as they seek to go further into the 2021 postseason.