Browns Roster: 5 veterans who could be pushed off roster by 2021 draft picks
By Sam Penix
3. Sheldrick Redwine
Safety was a huge issue for the Browns in 2020, and despite a rash of injuries to the starters, defensive coordinator Joe Woods didn’t rely on Redwine unless he had no other choice. That’s not a glowing review of the Miami product, who is now entering his third season in the league.
He’s a talented player, but the mental consistency on the field is just not there yet. To secure his spot on the roster, Redwine will have to take a step forward in training camp.
Beyond the free agency signing of John Johnson III and the return of Grant Delpit, the Browns drafted Richard LeCounte in the fifth round. LeCounte was involved in an ATV crash last season and wasn’t fully healthy for his pro day, which caused him to put up some very poor numbers, none of which are representative of the player he is on tape.
LeCounte is a rangy and instinctive safety who covers ground in a hurry in run support and just does not give up big plays in deep coverage. He needs to improve his tackling, but can be a special teamer as a rookie and could prove to be more dependable than Redwine. Keeping five or six safeties is not out of the question in the slightest, but there’s also a chance the team could decide to bring in one of the many quality veteran options still available in free agency.