5 players the Cleveland Browns will miss the most in 2021

3. CB Terrance Mitchell

Terrance Mitchell was the defense’s Iron Man in 2020, playing just about every single defensive snap, 1,225 in total, and 226 more than Andrew Sendejo, who placed second among Cleveland defenders.

He isn’t a great player, and probably not one you’d like starting for a championship-level team, but as a depth guy, which is what he was originally signed to be, Mitchell carries a lot of value. He was heavily counted upon last season, functioning as the team’s No. 1 corner for four games plus good chunks of others, and battled his way through that expanded role.

He was a consistent player. Nothing close to lockdown, but solid, which is all that could be asked of him. Had Greedy Williams not suffered a nerve injury, Mitchell would have likely functioned as the third CB again, playing significantly fewer snaps but still having a role.

Mitchell will join Tavierre Thomas in Houston, having signed for $6.5 million over two years, though its structure makes it $3.75 million for a year for all intents and purposes. That’s not a bad price in the slightest, and Mitchell gets to start once again.

Cleveland essentially swapped out Mitchell for Williams and Greg Newsome II, both younger, and better players (or at least presumably better in Newsome’s case), but the depth behind those guys is lacking, which is where Mitchell would have helped. That lack of depth is all the more concerning since Ward, Williams, and Newsome all have injury histories.