Damarious Randall: Way more than the Cleveland Browns bargained for
During their flurry of early offseason moves, the Cleveland Browns traded for Damarious Randall, in exchange for quarterback DeShone Kizer and swapping draft picks. Since coming from Green Bay, Damarious Randall has been nothing short of a steal, especially considering the price the Browns paid for him.
After coming out of Arizona State University in the 2015 NFL Draft, safety Damarious Randall had an up and down tenure with the Green Bay Packers. Despite his experience at and talent for, the safety position, Green Bay seemed intent on turning Randall into a cornerback in their ailing defense. After three years of being a good, but not great cornerback, the Packers dealt Randall to the Cleveland Browns.
In exchange, the Browns gave up quarterback DeShone Kizer. After infamously led the team to a 0-16 season months prior, the last thing the Browns wanted to do was keep Kizer on the roster. Kizer for Randall seemed like a pretty nice deal at the time for both teams, nothing special but not a bad trade by any stretch. And then, the 2018 season actually started.
Randall’s improved play could be a product of many things, like a maturing front seven, or a solid cornerback tandem. However, it feels like the scheme of Gregg Williams works perfectly for the 5-foot-11 safety. Randall thrives as a centerfield, field-roaming free safety, and that is exactly what Cleveland’s secondary needed heading into the season.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Randall already has two interceptions through four games, and a 50-yard return. Not only has he helped to improve the Browns’ secondary, but he has transformed the defense into an opportunistic and turnover-happy unit that thrives on interceptions and forced fumbles.
dark. Next. Grading the first quarter of the 2018 season
Although he may be a bit injury-prone, Randall came to the Browns at a perfect time. Considering what the Browns gave up, general manager John Dorsey might actually be a wizard on the trading front. Damarious Randall was way more than the Cleveland Browns bargained for, and this trade will continue to pay off well into the future.