Cleveland Browns: 10 potential free agent reinforcements ahead of 2021 season

Jan 17, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams (31) runs the ball against Cleveland Browns middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) during the first half in the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Darrel Williams (31) runs the ball against Cleveland Browns middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (93) during the first half in the AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team wide receiver Steven Sims (15) is tackled by Carolina Panthers free safety Tre Boston (33) in the fourth quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

10 free agents whom the Cleveland Browns could bring in to bolster their defensive depth

On paper, the Cleveland Browns have one of the NFL’s best starting defenses. But games aren’t played on paper, and injuries happen. The team has already lost backup linebacker Jacob Phillips for the season, and the performance of the backup defensive line against the Jacksonville Jaguars was far from encouraging.

There are still more than three weeks to go until Week 1, and that means plenty of time for roster moves. Here are 10 veteran defenders the Browns could bring in to provide some proven depth.

Before typing out your angry comment, please note that these players are not ranked in any particular order.

Cleveland Browns options at safety

10. Tre Boston

John Johnson III and Ronnie Harrison Jr. should form one of the league’s top safety tandems, and 2020 second-rounder Grant Delpit has elite potential. Unfortunately, Delpit is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered last training camp, and has been dealing with a hamstring issue all camp this year that he just re-aggravated.

Rookie Richard LeCounte and third-year man Sheldrick Redwine form the rest of the depth in that room, with neither player having proved much (or anything) at the pro level.

Boston has been one of the NFL’s best deep coverage safeties for seven years now, and while he had a down year in 2020, that was mostly because of his usage.

He can still be a really good starter, but remains unsigned. If he’s willing to negotiate on a price, he could provide the Browns with excellent depth, and would play quite a bit because of how defensive coordinator Joe Woods likes to use his safeties.

Both Harrison and Johnson are better within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage as opposed to lined up deep, so Boston’s skillset would mesh very well.