Cleveland Browns: 5 options to replace Tashaun Gipson
By Thomas Moore
If the Browns decide that they’d rather hold onto their money than pay it out in free agency, they could turn to the draft to fill the vacancy left by Gipson.
And if that is the case, selecting Ohio State’s Vonn Bell would prove to be a popular move among the scarlet-and-gray subset of Browns fans.
The 5-foot-11, 199-pound Bell is projected at both safety positions, but his size may make him a better fit as a free safety at the NFL level. There is a lot to like about Bell, as according to his draft profile at NFL.com he has a:
"Sheriff mentality looking to corral receivers on his side of the field. Has man cover talent. Instincts and reaction time are big assets. Trusts his eyes and fires downhill as soon as he reads throw. Capacity to meet ball at the catch point more than most cover safeties. Credited with 23 passes defensed over last two seasons. Able to mirror targets and strike a centered blow when flowing downhill. Plays with excellent feel for his responsibilities in space. Sifts through route combinations and always gets to his guy. Rarely out of position."
"Though lacking in desired size and physicality, Bell has the ability to match up in space and is at his best when keeping the action in front of him where he combines his vision, reactive quickness and ball skills to go make plays on the ball. Bell lacks size and isn’t an aggressive tackler so he needs to prove he can run so that he locks in his draft positioning as one of the top free safeties in this draft."
In addition, CBS Sports points out that Bell “held his own on an island, showing athleticism, timing and savvy that translates well to the next level,” and compared him, ironically enough, to Gipson
Next: LSU's Jalen Mills