Cleveland Browns 5 biggest needs entering offseason
By Randy Gurzi
2. Two new safeties
Heading into 2019, the Browns were fairly confident in their safeties. Damarious Randall was coming off a great first season with the team and was expected to be extra motivated as he entered the year looking for a contract extension.
They also added Morgan Burnett, who was with Randall and John Dorsey in Green Bay. Burnett wasn’t very good the season prior but that was when the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing him in more of a deep safety role, which he wasn’t going to have to do in Cleveland.
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Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks also praised Jermaine Whitehead who was playing a bit of a hybrid nickel role for the team.
Unfortunately, confidence in this position faded quickly. Randall went from being a defensive leader to a guy who missed tackles and created no turnovers. Burnett turned it on as the season went along but then tore his Achilles.
As for Whitehead, he was released after a Twitter tirade where he actually threatened someone. All of that led to them using players such as Sheldrick Redwine, who was not ready for the base defense snaps.
Cleveland needs to enter this season with the understanding that they need to add not one, but two safeties ahead of 2020. Randall is clearly gone and Redwine isn’t the answer. Burnett could still perform but he has a long road ahead of him and isn’t exactly young.
Not only will the Browns need to add someone in free agency, but they’re going to need to spend a draft pick — possibly an early one — on one as well.