The Cleveland Browns may be in the market for a new free safety if Tashaun Gipson leaves in free agency. Here are five options for the team to look at in that comes to pass.
The Cleveland Browns are just a little more than two days away from the start of free agency and, along with it, the possibility of the annual exodus of players leaving for what they assume are greener pastures.
While the Browns have openly talked about trying to retain center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and wide receiver Travis Benjamin, the club has been quiet about the prospects of resigning free safety Tashaun Gipson.
“I’ve expressed how much I want to be in the city of Cleveland, and I’m definitely still very profound with that, that I do want to be here, but at the end of the day, I do have to do what’s best for me and my career,” Gipson said about the prospects of staying with the team. “Ultimately, if the coach wants me around here, I think things will get done. If not, then we’ll see how it works out.
“As cliché as it may sound, I’ll be excited to be here if I’m here. If I’m not, I still will always wish and hope that the Browns have success because they deserve it.”
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2012, Gipson worked his way to being a Pro Bowl selection in 2014. But a knee injury that season limited his effectiveness in 2015, leaving the Browns in the position of trying to work out his true value.
With around $48 million in salary cap space the Browns should be able to retain whichever free agents they would like, but the signs seem to be pointing to Gipson not being on that list.
So, if the Browns decide to move on from Gipson, here are five players they could look at – in free agency and the draft – to fill his position.
Next: George Iloka
A three-year starter for the Cincinnati Bengals, albeit at strong safety, George Iloka was a three-year starter for the Bengals can also play the free safety position. He has five career interceptions and 128 career tackles and will turn 26 at the end of this month, putting him the preferred age range for free agents.
At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Iloka also has a considerable size advantage over Gipson, who is 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds.
Iloka is also the No. 3 ranked safety on Pro Football Focus’ list of free agent safeties:
"A three-year starter for the Bengals, the former fifth-round pick is one of the most complete safeties hitting free agency this offseason. His run defense grade over the last two seasons is +4.7, while his coverage grade over the same span is +7.2. Iloka has the size (6-foot-4-inches, 225 pounds) that some teams will covet to match up with tight ends, even if he wasn’t used often in that role in Cincinnati."
Iloka has also publicly expressed his admiration for head coach Hue Jackson, meaning that he should be open to talking with the Browns. Add in that he knows the division and represents an opportunity to weaken the Bengals, and Iloka could be an attractive option for the Browns.
Next: Rodney McLeod
Rodney McLeod has worked his way up special teams player to starting free safety for the Los Angeles Rams. While he has a tendency to make what ESPN refers to as “costly mistakes,” McLeod is also a solid three-year starter on the back end of a defense.
“We call Rodney McLeod our ‘angel’ back there, kind of our savior because when something breaks he’s got to make some unbelievable tackles to save touchdowns,” former Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis told the team’s website. “As aggressively as we play, when something does pop he has to be that angel to save us. I think, because we do play him so deep, people don’t realize how tough a job he does have. He’s done phenomenal.”
Like Gipson, McLeod entered the league as an undrafted free agent and finished the 2015 season as the 10th ranked free safety by Pro Football Focus. He’s been a part of an aggressive Rams defense, something that would play well in Cleveland, and during his time as a starter with the Rams has forced seven fumbles and picked off five passes.
In a thin market for safeties, and with the Rams having $44 million in salary cap space, if the Browns do show interest in McLeod they are going to face competition for him.
Next: Walter Thurmond
In his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Walter Thurmond made the move from cornerback to free safety in 2015, finishing the season as Pro Football Focus’ 18th ranked safety.
It also marked the first season that Thurmond made a full 16 starts as he entered the year with just nine career starts due to a variety of injuries (he only played in two games in 2014 before landing in injured reserve). Not surprisingly, Thurmond posted career highs in interceptions (three), tackles (76), sacks (two) and forced fumbles (two).
Like Gipson’s situation with the Browns, Thurmond is unsure whether or not the Eagles want to retain him. And while he did fine with a position switch to safety, Thurmond’s heart may still be at the cornerback position.
“I was playing some cornerback today on scout team and I kind of miss playing corner and being out there,” he said in December. “It just depends on what teams value me at. I haven’t been at the cornerback position in about two years between last year going on IR and this year playing safety.”
Thurmond’s age, he will be 29 when the 2016 season kicks off, and injury history may not make him the top priority for the Browns, but at the right price he is a player the team could consider.
Next: Ohio State's Vonn Bell
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
LSU’s Jalen Mills broke his fibula and tore ligaments in his ankle in August, but was able to work his way back to play in the Tigers’ final six games of 2015, making five starts as the team’s nickelback or safety. He was in LSU’s starting lineup as a true freshman when he was called on to take over when Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed from the program.
While he missed being on the field for the opening weeks of the season, Mills said the injury ultimately made him a better player.
“Just me being hurt sitting on the sidelines really being able to sit in on the meetings and hear what everybody else has to say (made me better),” he told The Times-Picayune in December. “Hearing the coaches talk on the headsets. Getting to be a student of the game.”
According to CBS Sports, Mills has:
"Agile feet with the recovery quickness to make-up false steps. Trusts his speed, bursting out of his stance to accelerate and close gaps. Swivel hips and fluid change of directions skills. Collects his footwork and stays balanced in his transition. Locates the ball in the deep half of the field and quickly gains correct body position. Improved route recognition with a good feel in space ? knack for running routes better than receivers. Strong hands to contend passes at the catch point. Verbose team leader and accepted his expanded role as a senior. Four-year starter with versatile starting experience at cornerback, safety and nickel ? also experienced as a gunner on special teams."
According to NFL.com, Mills brings a lot to the table:
"Four-year starter from deep, talented conference. Has slot cover ability. Hips are loose and he’s able to open and mirror receivers from press. Uses crisp, controlled footwork out of his transitions. Locates the deep pass and can turn to make plays on the ball. Very aware from zone and handles his responsibilities without many busts. Good blitzer from the slot."
While Mills is attractive because of his versatility, the team that drafts him will have to determine if he is better as a slot cornerback (which the Browns have covered) or a safety. And, at least in the case of the Browns, Mills will have to answer some potentially tough questions about his arrest for second-degree battery of a woman in the summer of 2014 (the charges were eventually reduced to a misdemeanor and he was assigned to a diversion program).
Next: 5 Questions on Johnny Manziel with The Landry Hat
The Cleveland Browns will open free agency on March 9 with a little more than $48 million in salary cap space to spend. Follow Dawg Pound Daily for all the latest news on free agency as the Browns work to rebuild their roster.