Cleveland Browns: Which rookies will make the biggest impact?
By Randy Gurzi
3. Sheldrick Redwine, S, Miami
After taking Sione Takitaki at No. 80, the Browns finally added a new safety with their fourth-round pick. At No. 119 overall, Cleveland took Miami’s Sheldrick Redwine who was a really good value at this point in the draft.
A former cornerback, Redwine has the ability to play all over the secondary. He’s incredibly aggressive and plays with more physicality than his 196-pound frame would suggest. He also continually improved for the Hurricanes and wound up becoming a ball hawk during his final season. As a senior, he finished with 64 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions.
Just as is the case with Takitaki, Redwine’s path to the field in year one is going to be on special teams. He’s not in line to start over Damarious Randall or Morgan Burnett, however, there’s still more of a chance for him to see extended time than Takitaki due to the depth behind their starting safeties being thinner than at linebacker.
There’s a good chance that only Redwine and Eric Murray make the roster as backup safeties and they could both see time in sub packages, as well as filling in for injuries. Burnett especially has had a hard time playing all 16 games, a feat he’s accomplished just twice in his nine seasons — and that was back in 2011 and 2012.
Redwine’s ability to play in the box makes him an ideal backup to Burnett, which means he has a slightly better chance at making an impact this season than their third-round pick.