CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns’ defense in 2020 was adequate, but not good enough.
While EVP/GM Andrew Berry wouldn’t say much negatively about a unit that allowed opponents to convert 44% on third down and an astonishing 81.5% on fourth down during the 2020 regular season, he expressed his true feeling this offseason on what it’s going to take to get to the next level – a complete gut job on defense.
Allowing Ched Henne to rally Kansas City in the divisional round from a third-and-14 in the final two minutes was the last straw.
After signing six defenders as free agents, Berry used five of his eight selections over the weekend on defense. Cleveland could conceivably field nine new starters on defense this fall with Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward being the only hold overs.
Here’s what Joe Woods’ rebuilt unit, which has been constructed with speed and versatility, could look like this fall.
We’ll pencil in Greg Newsome II, selected 26th overall Thursday night, opposite of Ward in the secondary. Troy Hill will likely be the nickel and Greedy Williams will have to compete for snaps.
Grant Delpit, a 2020 second-round selection last year, is back from a torn Achilles and we project him and free agent addition John Johnson III as the two starting safeties. Ronnie Harrison likely will be the third safety on the field in some alignments leaving fifth-round pick Richard LeCounte and Sheldrick Redwine as insurance policies and special teamers.
Linebacker will be fun to watch this fall as Woods will be able to play the matchup game well. They didn’t move up to select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in round two to collect dust and we assume he’ll be paired with another free agent addition, Anthony Walker, as the primary starters. Malcolm Smith, Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson move to rotational roles.
Garrett anchors the defensive line along with Jadeveon Clowney, who is here on a one-year deal along with Takkarist McKinley at defensive end. They’ll break in two new starters to replace Larry Ogunjobi, off to Cincinnati, and Sheldon Richardson, who was released at defensive tackle. Andrew Billings, who opted out last season, and free agent addition Malik Jackson enter the offseason as the leaders in the clubhouse to win the jobs, but Jordan Elliott, a 2020 third-round pick, and 2021 fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai will also see time in the rotation.
The NFL is a quarterback league, and if the Browns are going to get to the Super Bowl, they have a gauntlet of them to go through in 2021 – Lamar Jackson of the Ravens and Joe Burrow of the Bengals twice, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Kyler Murray and the Cardinals along with Cam Newton and the rebuilt Patriots. It’s possible Ohio State’s Justin Fields, picked 11th overall, could be starting for the Bears as well. The Aaron Rodgers situation with the Packers and Deshaun Watson’s legal issues with the Texans bear monitoring with both teams on the schedule.
Berry’s moves this offseason were not about one specific player, quarterback or team. His goal was to give Woods options to compete against a variety of players and schemes and he did just that.