5 crucial moves the Cleveland Browns have to make this offseason

1. Draft a starting cornerback

In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Browns ended up with three players who could be cornerstones to build around. Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb were taken at No. 1 and No. 35 respectively, and since they play on the offensive side of the ball, they usually get all the love. However, there were two other picks in between those players and while Austin Corbett (the No. 33 overall selection) didn’t last long at all, they did find another stud with the fourth pick in the draft — Denzel Ward.

A shutdown cornerback with 4.3 speed out of Ohio State University, Ward came to the Browns with a lot of expectations being placed on his shoulders and he’s surely delivered. He was able to hold his own against Antonio Brown in Week 1 of his rookie season and even had two picks in the game.

Since then, he’s become even more consistent and has developed into one of the better corners in the league. The problem is, he’s missed a total of 11 games in his first three seasons. While that has to be worrisome, he’s been on the field much more than Greedy Williams, the second-round pick from LSU in 2019.

Williams missed four games as a rookie but then missed his entire second season with a nerve issue in his shoulder. He still has the potential to be a starter in the NFL, but at this point, it’s hard to count on him.

During the 2020 campaign, the loss of Williams was felt and it was even worse when Ward was gone as well. By season’s end, practice squad players such as Robert Jackson were playing significant snaps. That’s why the most important thing the Browns can do this offseason is add more help in the secondary.

They need to spend an early draft pick on a corner with players such as Jaycee Horn standing out as perfect candidates. It also wouldn’t hurt to find another veteran who can come in and start if needed.