4 ‘cheap’ free agent safeties Cleveland Browns could target
By Josh Brown
The Cleveland Browns have between $19 million and $25 million in cap space, depending on which site you use. How will they use it?
The Cleveland Browns had some issues last season at the safety position. They will look to correct some of that with a healthier season from Ronnie Harrison and hopefully the return of Grant Delpit from an Achilles injury. The problem? After that, it is all question marks.
Andrew Sendejo and Karl Joseph are free agents, and Sheldon Redwine took steps backward last season. Like cornerback, depth is a concern, and the Browns will likely use some cap space and the draft to address it. Could Sendejo or Joseph find their way back to Cleveland?
Based on the play last season from both of the veteran safeties, it would be more of a surprise if the Cleveland Browns brought Sendejo back as he was one of the worst graded safeties in the NFL. At the same time, Joseph was not much better but showed signs of improvement towards the end of the 2020 season. He was excellent against the New York Giants with 10 tackles, one for a loss, and two passes defended. He also had a solid performance against the Steelers in the last game of the season to get the Browns in the playoffs.
Maybe the front office saw the lights click on in their system, or maybe Joseph finally got over nagging little injuries that kept him out two games and limited in others. We will have to wait and see where the front office stands, but here are four free-agent names they should certainly consider.
Cleveland Browns free agent targets
4. Malik Hooker
Malik Hooker was drafted 15th overall out of Ohio State in 2017 by the Indianapolis Colts. He was considered a top-10 talent at the time, and the Colts were excited to get him at 15, but since being drafted, he has been unable to stay on the field. Hooker has had multiple injuries, including a torn Achilles that ended his 2020 season.
He has never completed a season, and his career-high snap count is 910. Any team that takes a chance on Hooker is banking that he can get back healthy and stay on the field for at least 13-14 games showing the talent that made him a first-round pick in 2017.
While the Browns should at least give Hooker a look based on how cheap the upside of signing him could be with Grant Delpit coming off an ACL, having another player off a major injury is a risk. Hooker has shown some ability in this league.
If he can come back healthy, a big if, he could be a huge steal as depth beside or behind Ronnie Harrison and Grant Delpit. The other advantage is he could come cheap enough the Browns could still look to bring in someone else with him.
Contract Prediction: One year $2.5-3.5 million with incentives