Cleveland Browns: 5 Remaining Free Agents targets heading into July
By Greg Newland
No. 2 – Malik Hooker, Safety
The Cleveland Browns were decimated with injuries in 2020, but specifically in the secondary. At the safety position alone, Grant Delpit didn’t play a snap, Ronnie Harrison only played in 11 games, and Andrew Sendejo missed two games (he was also playing horribly when he started).
2021 should be different. The Browns added John Johnson, Delpit is healthy, and the they drafted Richard LeCounte in the fifth round.
However, LeCounte is coming off a serious injury, and the next backup is Sheldrick Redwine who has been extremely inconsistent in his time with the Browns. I don’t even see Redwine making the roster.
Safety is such an important position in the league, and therefore I think they should consider singing a guy like Malik Hooker as a backup. Hooker has starting experience in the NFL but has struggled after a breakout season at Ohio State which led him to be the No. 15 pick in the 2017 draft.
Johnson, Delpit, and Harrison would be your starters in the 4-2-5 defense but having a guy like Hooker to play backup and fill in for injuries would be a huge asset for this roster. Not to mention that the change of scenery would also be great for Hooker after four disappointing seasons with the Colts.