Cleveland Browns nominees for each 2021 NFL award
By Nick Swanson
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
This offseason the Browns did what they desperately needed to do, go big or go home on defensive players. This rookie class is absolutely stacked with first-round pick Greg Newsome II, second-round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah, fourth-round pick Tommy Togiai, and fifth-round picks Tony Fields II and Richard LeCounte.
They continued the overhaul by bringing in undrafted free agents Marvin Wilson, Romeo McKnight, Manny Rugamba, and Kiondre Thomas.
There are three members of this class who could very easily win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2021. Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Marvin Wilson are those guys. Owusu-Koramoah and Wilson are two guys that at one point were expected to be first-rounders but fell out because of health concerns.
After losing Larry Ogunjobi and cutting Sheldon Richardson, Marvin Wilson will be competing with Jordan Elliott and recent free agent signing Andrew Billings. JOK and Newsome should both be starting during the season opener, barring an offseason injury, so those are the two most likely candidates. With Newsome being potentially the third corner behind Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams, there may not be as many opportunities for him to shine this season.
JOK looks to be the best option for the Browns if someone were to take home the DROTY award. He’s a safety-linebacker hybrid that flies all over the field and was one of the best defensive players in college football last season. There’s a very good chance we could see him in multiple positions next year but that could also be his downfall as he is in a similar situation as Isaiah Simmons of the Arizona Cardinals who didn’t have a great rookie campaign.