Cleveland Browns: 4 free agents still available after the draft

1. Tre Boston, S

After the Cleveland Browns moved up for Greedy Williams, it seemed as though their next pick would be used to add a safety. However, the team threw a curveball as they added BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki. They did end up taking Sheldrick Redwine, but that wasn’t until the fourth round.

One of the reasons they felt fine waiting was the addition of Morgan Burnett in free agency. Burnett spent eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers last year on a three-year deal worth $14.35 million. He struggled with his new team, which led to his release after just one season.

Currently, he’s slated to start for the Browns, but there has to be some concern. While Burnett had a great career with Green Bay, his decline last season was evident. He started just two of 11 games played and had just 30 tackles. In addition to his struggles in 2018, Burnett has only played a full 16-game season twice in nine seasons, with those instances coming in 2011 and 2012.

Since then, he’s missed a total of 20 games over six seasons, meaning the backups need to be ready. Or maybe, they need to add more players capable of either pushing Burnett or simply being there if needed.

That could lead them to add Tre Boston, who for some reason is still looking for a job. It’s the third season in a row Boston is searching for a new home as he left the Carolina Panthers in 2016 to join the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017. Last season, he went to Arizona where he was a 13-game starter that had 79 tackles and three sacks.

He also played under current Cleveland defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the head coach in Arizona. That was his second tenure under Wilks, who coached him in Carolina early in his career. Boston’s familiarity with the system could help him catch up quickly and would solidify the Browns secondary.