Is the secondary the deepest position group for the Cleveland Browns?

The Cleveland Browns have talent all over the roster, but their group of defensive backs could be the deepest position group on the roster.

During the Cleveland Browns’ mandatory minicamp, head coach Freddie Kitchens said the defensive line was the strength of the team.

With the additions of Olivier Vernon and Sheldon Richardson to the defensive front, the Browns certainly will have a strong group of starting defensive linemen. However, there remains questions about the depth of the defensive line, which hindered the group last season.

Besides adding Vernon and Richardson, the Browns did not add any other defensive linemen this offseason. In fact, they lost talent when they traded last year’s starting defensive end, Emmanuel Ogbah.

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So Kitchens may view the Browns’ starting defensive line as a strength. But unless the reserve defensive linemen fit Steve Wilks’ defense better than Gregg Williams’, then the Browns will have similar issues up front as last year.

But the Browns do not need to look much further to find one of the deepest position groups on the roster. The defensive line may have star power, but the Cleveland Browns’ secondary is arguably the deepest group on Cleveland’s roster.

Similar to the defensive line, adding to the secondary was a priority for the Browns front office this offseason. And it seems like it was a bigger priority, as Cleveland added five players to the secondary either through the draft or free agency.

Browns added two new starters in safety Morgan Burnett and Greedy Williams, likely joining Damarious Randall and Denzel Ward as the starters for 2019. But for the most part and unlike the defensive line, the Browns kept most of the starters from last year.

Although the Browns moved on from last year’s starting safety Jabrill Peppers, both Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie, who both started at cornerback last season, remain on the roster. So when looking at the cornerback depth chart, the Browns have four players with experience starting. And they also performed well when they were starting.

Ward emerged as a ball-hawk and a potential shutdown corner in his rookie season, intercepting three passes and 11 passes defensed. Mitchell missed half the season with an injury, but he showed a knack for making plays on the ball and forcing turnovers, forcing two fumbles, one interception and six passes defensed. Carrie showed the same knack for making plays on the ball, forcing two fumbles, one interception and eight passes defensed.

The Browns top four cornerbacks also have the versatility to cover the slot and do so well. So whatever the situation calls for, the Browns can call on any of their top four cornerbacks to come into the game and feel comfortable wherever they are playing.

But the Browns also have solid depth when looking at their safeties. Randall emerged as a top safety, proving to be a strong tackler as well as making plays in the passing game in the deep part of the field. Although there was a lot of turnover at the position, most notably at strong safety, the Browns have done well to build the group back up.

Burnett brings veteran experience to the group. And as he returns to his natural position, there remains the possibility that he has his best season in several years. Behind him on the depth chart is Eric Murray and rookie Sheldrick Redwine, who will both play in reserve roles and on special teams.

Cleveland also has Jermaine Whitehead playing as the primary backup behind Burnett and Randall. Whitehead has been the biggest surprise this offseason, as he is lined up to play significant snaps next season. Wilks said Whitehead has emerged as a leader of the defense, and he will see a lot of time on the field in sub-packages.

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The back-end of the Browns defense is a young group, but there is a lot of ability in the secondary. Kitchens may feel the defensive line is the strength of the team, but a case can be made that the Browns secondary is the deepest group.

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