Cleveland Browns: Which defensive rookies will make the team?

Derrick Kindred is an “old school” style player. He is definitely what Ray Horton calls “little men that can hit”. Derrick Kindred can hit. He seeks out contact. However, hitting takes a toll. Three days before the first game of his senior season Kindred broke his collarbone. Instead of sitting out, Kindred played his entire senior season with a broken collarbone. To say he is tough is an understatement.

Related: 5 Questions on Derrick Kindred

The Browns selected Kindred with the No. 31 pick of the fourth round. Kindred is a prototypical in-the-box safety that can help with run support. He has excellent coverage skills underneath. He gets into trouble the more ground he is asked to cover. The Browns would be wise not to ask him to cover deep. He can sometimes take bad angles in the hopes of making a big hit. He was a difference maker on special teams at TCU. He likes to intimidate opponents. And, he is a lot of fun to watch.

Kindred fills the role in Ray Horton’s defense once occupied by T.J. Ward. He is the intimidating little man who can lay down the big hit. If Horton goes with the more exotic looks and blitzes like he has in year’s past, Kindred will be used as an all-around players who can line up in multiple positions providing scheme flexibility.

Kindred will be competing with Rahim Moore and Jordan Poyer for playing time this fall. His skill set as a little man who can hit will help him.

Verdict: Kindred is an intimidator on special teams. If he can put together a great camp, he has a shot at starting this fall at strong safety. He makes the team.

Next: Trey Caldwell