Cleveland Browns: Ranking biggest team needs in 2019 NFL Draft
By Randy Gurzi
2. Safety
Coming in at No. 2 on our list is safety — which is a position that was No. 1 up until the recent signing of Morgan Burnett. Currently, the team is set to start their newest free agent pick up opposite Damarious Randall — which will reunite two who were teammates during their Green Bay Packers days.
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Randall was part of the team’s overhaul a season ago and was added in a trade that sent DeShone Kizer to the Packers. After moving from corner to free safety, Randall became a star in the defensive backfield. He gave them exactly what they needed as a deep safety and allowed Jabrill Peppers to focus on being a true strong safety.
Peppers, however, is now gone as he was part of the package the team surrendered for Odell Beckham, Jr. In his place is Burnett, but at 30-years of age, it’s not like he is expected to be the long-term answer.
Cleveland doesn’t need to reach thanks to the presence of two capable starters, but there are concerns about their depth as well as what to do down the road given Burnett’s age. They don’t necessarily have to add a player with their first pick, but if the right person falls to them — like maybe Taylor Rapp — then they absolutely need to pull the trigger.