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3 Key Cleveland Browns rookies to watch at training camp

By Randy Gurzi

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers breaks up a pass against Alphonso Stewart #9 of the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 09: Andraez Williams #29 of the LSU Tigers breaks up a pass against Alphonso Stewart #9 of the Chattanooga Mocs during the first half of a game at Tiger Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 24: Sheldrick Redwine #22 of the Miami Hurricanes knocks down a pass intended for Jester Weah #85 of the Pittsburgh Panthers on November 24, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

3. Sheldrick Redwine, Safety

One of the reasons the selection of Sione Takitaki felt surprising was the Browns need at safety. After trading away Jabrill Peppers and waiving Derrick Kindred, they were short on options at strong safety. They did add Morgan Burnett and Eric Murray but Murray looks to be primarily a special teams standout and Burnett is coming off the worst season of his career.

Having said that, Murray has been able to start in the past for the Kansas City Chiefs and was drafted by John Dorsey. Burnett and Dorsey also have ties as the current Cleveland general manager was in the Green Bay Packers front office when Burnett was there. Dorsey knows both players well and also understands that part of Burnett’s issues in 2018 was due to being played out of position by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Dorsey’s familiarity with those two safeties is surely the reason he skipped on drafting someone such as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson at No. 80 and waited to add depth at the position. Eventually, the Browns did get themselves a young safety to groom as they picked Miami’s Sheldrick Redwine at No. 119 overall.

Redwine is an important addition because he could be a long-term answer at safety. He may not have the ideal size for strong safety at 196-pounds, but don’t tell him that. Redwine is a willing tackler who is a plus defender in run support and can be a stud on special teams as a rookie due to his aggressiveness as well as his sure tackling.

He could also be on the field in the base defense a lot as a rookie. Morgan Burnett has had issues staying healthy in recent years, not playing a full 16 games since 2012. Damarious Randall has also missed time as he’s never played all 16 games — to be fair he missed just one in 2018 but history is telling us that Redwine could be pressed into meaningful action as a rookie.

Training camp will be the first real chance to see how he does when the pad comes on and he faces NFL talent which means all eyes should be on him when he hits the field.

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