Cleveland Browns: The case for drafting Minkah Fitzpatrick

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Minkah Fitzpatrick #29 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida Gators in the first quarter during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns are pondering who to draft with one of their two first-round picks, and they could do worse than to select Alabama defensive back, Minkah Fitzpatrick.

On the night of April 26, 2018, the Cleveland Browns have the first and fourth pick of the NFL Draft. While all eyes will be on the quarterbacks, the Browns have other needs they may be wise to address. Which is why Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick should get a long look.

Fitzpatrick has a skill set that would be a welcome addition to a defense in need of playmakers. In their Jan. 22 report, Walter Football listed Fitzpatrick as the second-best safety prospect in this year’s draft. And in November of 2017, Sports Illustrated quoted an unnamed NFL general manager as saying that Fitzpatrick, a  consensus All-American, could be a top-three pick.

At 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, Fitzpatrick has the size to play both safety and cornerback. This is important because, while Fitzpatrick has said he prefers to play safety, the Browns desperately need a defensive back with the press-man cover skills to fit defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ scheme.

Unquestionably, the Browns defense was better in 2017 than in 2016. In particular, their tackling was better as was the way they played the run. However, they ranked in the bottom half of the league in three crucial statistics: 21st  in sacks, tied for 16th in passes defended and 31st in interceptions. This was no surprise to fans who agonized as receivers continually found soft spots in Cleveland’s zone defense.

On Dec. 15, 2017, Williams acknowledged that he didn’t have the players he needed to play man coverage:

"“We have played to the skillset of who we are right now. I have never played this much zone coverage in my life. You guys can figure out why.”"

This was refreshing news to Browns fans who agonized over watching defensive backs providing six-yard cushions in third-and-four situations.

In addition to his ball skills and sure tackling, Fitzpatrick can help the Browns by providing the defensive line with additional time to make quarterbacks uncomfortable. In a perfect world, this will lead to more sacks and interceptions.

And, as more offenses use a hurry-up scheme to keep defenses from making substitutions, Fitzpatrick has value as a three-down player to complement 2017 first-round pick Jabrill Peppers.

Next: Browns: Top 5 mid-round draft targets

The Browns may need to add a quarterback in the draft, but the impact that Fitzpatrick can have on the defense means that he needs to be in the discussion for when the Browns are on the clock o draft night.