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Cleveland Browns: Way too early 53-man roster prediction

By Randy Gurzi

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 30, 2018: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 30, 2018 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won 26-24. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 30, 2018: Running back Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens on December 30, 2018 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore won 26-24. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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Damarious Randall Cleveland Browns
NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 16: Damarious Randall #23 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Safety (5):

Damarious Randall, Morgan Burnett, Sheldrick Redwine, Eric Murray, Jermaine Whitehead

It sure seemed like the Browns were going to take a safety early in the 2019 NFL Draft and it felt like the third round would have been an ideal spot for that. With Chauncey Gardner-Johnson still on the board, it seemed he would be the choice but instead, they went with linebacker Sione Takitaki. This says a lot about not only Takitaki, but also their belief in Morgan Burnett as the strong safety.

Burnett had a down season with Pittsburgh last year but was solid for the majority of the previous eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He’s 30-years old, so he won’t be around much longer but could buy them time to develop Sheldrick Redwine — who they took in the fourth out of Miami.

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The veteran safety will also be reunited with his old teammate, Damarious Randall who has the free safety position locked down. Randall was picked up from the Packers in exchange for DeShone Kizer and changed the secondary for the better. He’s a ball hawk who had four picks and a fumble recovery in his first season with the Browns — and now has 14 career picks in just four seasons.

Further down the depth chart will be Eric Murray who was added in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah was dealt following the Olivier Vernon trade and Murray was added as a player who is expected to shore up special teams coverage. He still can help if needed as a safety in the base defense, but his ability to cover punts and kickoffs is what brought him to Cleveland.

Rounding things out is Jermaine Whitehead who came on about halfway through this past season. Another former Packer, he’s on the roster bubble and could be in danger if the team went heavy at any other position.

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