Cleveland Browns: 5 dream scenarios for upcoming 2022 season
By John Suchan
Cleveland Browns dream scenario No. 2: Team defense ranks in the Top 10 in the league
In recent defensive rankings, the Browns secondary has been getting some love. After starting last season off on the wrong foot, especially in the secondary, they regrouped and finished the year strong. The publication PFF recently ranked the Cleveland secondary as the third-best going into the season.
Bucky Brooks, of the NFL Network, recently ranked cornerback Denzel Ward as the second-best in the league. Ward also had an impressive 86.3 grade from PFF after last season when defending opponents one on one.
Besides Ward, the cornerbacks returning are a solid group. Greg Newsome II, in his second season, may move into the inside position. Greedy Williams and A.J Green return as well. The team drafted cornerback Martin Emerson out of Mississippi State who will be able to provide some nice depth.
The Browns defensive line has the bookends in ends, Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. They also drafted Alex Wright from UAB and traded for Chase Winovich from the New England Patriots. So they will be more than ready on the outside. The inside tackle positions are still up for grabs, but new rookie Perrion Winfrey out of Oklahoma could add some muscle to the interior of the line.
The linebackers are more experienced this time around with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah ready to be the breakout star of the group.
All of this suggests a part of the team that is ready to step up and help the whole team get back to the playoffs.