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Predicting the Cleveland Browns Week One starters

By Dan Justik

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – NOVEMBER 26: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the football upfield against Jabrill Peppers #22 of the Cleveland Browns during their game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Browns 30-16. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

Secondary – Denzel Ward, Damarious Randall, Jabrill Peppers, T.J. Carrie

The Browns front office heavily invested into their secondary this off-season to try and fix the pass defense. The Browns added seven new secondary players since the season ended, with most of the players at the cornerback position.

The safeties seem to be guaranteed locks, with Damarious Randall at free safety and Jabrill Peppers playing hybrid strong safety. The Browns wanted to move Peppers closer to the line of scrimmage, so they need to add a play-making safety. They did just that by trading for Randall. Both Randall and Peppers will be playing the positions they are most comfortable at, and could see big jumps in their production this season.

The cornerback position is a mosh-pit of players. Cleveland traded both of the starters from last season, and drafted Denzel Ward in the top-five and gave a hefty contract to T.J. Carrie during the off-season.

Ward excels playing in press coverage and making plays on the ball, which is exactly what Williams wants out of his corners. After impressing the coaches and teammates during mini-camp, Ward will be starting Week 1.

The other starting cornerback will be a tough battle all the way until the end of the preseason. The job will likely come down to either Carrie or E.J. Gaines. Both were signed during free agency this off-season, but Carrie received starter money compared to Gaines.

Carrie was one of the first players the Browns signed during free agency, and the Browns coaching staff must have seen something in his game that made them confident in giving him that type of money. He has played a lot of time in the slot in his career, but could be ready to take on a bigge role.

Next: Five opposing players the Browns must account for in 2018

Gaines has experience in Williams’ defense, but did not have his best season until he was out of his scheme. Carrie gets the nod to be the second starting cornerback, but could get kicked into the slit when the Browns have three corners on the field while Gaines fills in on the outside.

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