Retooling the Cleveland Browns 2.0: Mock draft post-Senior Bowl

The Browns draft themselves a new strong safety with their fourth round pick in this mock draft. Free safety is the bigger need right now, but the Browns have a need at both safeties. The team should bring back Damarious Randall, but he might not be in the team’s budget, and considering that Dorsey is gone, Randall could be on the move.

Antoine Brooks Jr. was arguably the best player on Maryland’s roster last season, as he was voted as the team’s MVP for the 2019 season. He has a plethora of awards from his time in Maryland, including 2nd-team all-Big Ten in 2018 and 2019, according to the coaches.

Listed only at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he may be a little on the smaller side, but he is still a ball player who has a lot of value to add to the franchise. In a great article by Benjamin Sloak, he accurately describes the role that Brooks provided for the Terrapins in 2019, which he calls the “Derwin James role.” Jabrill Peppers is a similar type player, and he showed his value to the Browns defense, especially when they let him play this type of style before he was shipped off to New York in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade.

The Browns could pick up their box safety of the future with their 4th round pick, which would be huge for whoever becomes the defensive coordinator in 2020, most likely Joe Woods. Brooks would be a great value pick for the Browns and would help bring some new juice for the secondary that sure could use some stability at the strong safety position.