Predicting the Cleveland Browns Roster
By Shane Carter
Secondary (10): E.J. Gaines, Denzel Ward, T.J. Carrie, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Terrance Mitchell, Howard Wilson, Damarious Randall, Jabrill Peppers, Derrick Kindred, Simeon Thomas
If there’s any position group John Dorsey has experience with, it’s the defensive backs. Plenty of new faces will join a few familiar ones in 2018. I only expect four names from last season to reappear in the 2018 team.
Howard Wilson missed all of 2017 with an injury but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt to be the backup to the outside along with free agent signee T.J.Carrie.
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The players they will be backing up are fourth-overall draft pick, Denzel Ward and a big free agent in E.J. Gaines. Both can be a pair of true number one corners to go against any outside pair of receivers.
Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Terrance Mitchell are both underrated, and both very good at playing the nickel corner position. I expect Boddy-Calhoun to be the starter, but Mitchell can easily come in and not miss a beat against slot receivers.
The trade for Damarious Randall, and subsequent position change to safety meant that Jabrill Peppers could move back to his natural spot at strong safety. Peppers was much better playing in that role rather than in the deep safety position, Randall played free safety in college so the position change shouldn’t be hard.
Behind them is Derrick Kindred who can give good depth behind Peppers, and sixth round draft pick Simeon Thomas. At 6-foot-4 and190-pounds, and skills at playing the zone, I expect Thomas to switch to free safety behind Randall. Neither will start, but will give some security at the number two positions.
I project the starters to be E.J Gaines and Denzel Ward at corner, Briean Boddy-Calhoun at the nickel, Damarious Randall at free safety and Jabrill Peppers at strong saftey. How does that sound?