The Cleveland Browns will be searching the free agent market again this season for some help at safety and these five players could be targeted
The safety situation for the Cleveland Browns these past seasons hasn’t been the best. The team brought in veteran John Johnson III in a big free agent signing back in 2021 and he was looked at as being a potential difference maker. To date, he’s been a disappointing signing, to say the least.
He’s still under contract, but he could be traded or released in the coming months. Right now, the Browns are in the red in terms of cap space going into the free agency market which starts March 16th.
Grant Delpit, one of the other safeties is coming into his own and had a very nice end to the season. Ronnie Harrison is a free agent again and will likely be looking for a new team. So, with doors opening and shutting at the safety position, let’s look at five free agents that could make their way to Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns FA Safety Target No. 5: Taylor Rapp, Los Angeles Rams
Taylor Rapp has played with the Los Angeles Rams since he was drafted by them back in 2019 from the University of Washington. He’s had a steady career in terms of statistics. However, the Rams have let him play out his contract and the discussion in Los Angeles is that they expect him to be allowed to walk in free agency.
Cleveland’s current safety John Johnson also came from the Rams and was able to walk as well in free agency a couple of years back. L.A. doesn’t seem to make a habit of keeping their safeties around long-term.
When you read the negatives about Rapp’s game, they suggest that he gets lost in coverage, which sounds like the same criticism for Johnson. Rapp is only 25 years old and had a solid season in terms of tackles with 92 this year. He’s also collected a couple more interceptions this year and has a total of nine in his four-year career. The market value for him is projected somewhere between $6 to $10 million a season which is a little bit on the high-end, especially if the Browns are looking to lower their cap.
However, if Cleveland parts ways with Johnson, they could bring in Rapp at a low-end deal that may be in the ballpark of $5 to 6 million a year. The fact that Rapp is young and still growing as a player is positive and despite the negative criticism of his work in the secondary, maybe a change of scenery in Cleveland would do him some good for his game.
Cleveland Browns Safety FA Target No. 4: Jonathan Owens, Houston Texans
Coming from Missouri Western University, the Houston Texans signed Jonathan Owens after the 2019 NFL Draft. He finally broke out in 2022 as he finished with 125 tackles while starting all 17 games for Houston. The Texans again are in full rebuild mode with a new coach, and such a player like Owens could be there for the taking because of the constant turnover in Houston.
There’s a bright future for Owens somewhere if not with the Texans and he could be a nice fit in Cleveland. He had a knack for finding the ball, defending the pass well, and flying around the field. He’d be another up-and-coming talent to go alongside a player like Grant Delpit.
Cleveland Browns Safety FA Target No. 3: Eric Rowe, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins safety Eric Rowe has been in the league for eight seasons. He’s spent the last several with the Dolphins so unlike the previous two candidates, he’s a little bit more experienced. He’s been an on and off again starter over his lengthy career and this year he started in six games. For the season, he had 56 tackles, forced two fumbles, and recorded two sacks. For his career, he’s registered 381 tackles, forced six fumbles, and had five interceptions.
Rowe was actually born in Cleveland and played his college ball at the University of Utah. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles back in 2015. After his first season with the Eagles, he was traded to the New England Patriots where he played for three seasons. He then joined the Dolphins and has been with them ever since.
Rowe finished up his contract with the Dolphins this season which was a three-year and $16 million deal. It’s projected his market value is probably somewhere in the ballpark of $2-to-$3 million per year. Compared to the other candidates that we’ve already discussed, Rowe financially might be a better fit, however, his age could be a barrier for the Browns, who typically like going with the younger player.
Cleveland Browns Safety FA Target No. 2: Mike Edwards, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot of decisions to make this offseason due to limitations with cap space. Mike Edwards, one of their safeties is going in the free agency and could be on the Browns’ radar if they’re looking to sign a solid contributor to the secondary.
Edwards recently had the game of his career when his team played the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs. He racked up 10 tackles and seemed to be very active for the Bucs. For the season, Edwards had 82 tackles to go along with one interception, several pass deflections, and one sack. He has had seven interceptions in his career as well.
With the Buccaneers trying to decide what they’re going to do with their team because of their enormous negative numbers in terms of cap space, Edwards could be there for the taking. The cost would be more reasonable than some of the other candidates were talking about today as well.
Some projections have him on a deal that we gave him maybe $5 to $7 million a year right now.
Cleveland Browns Safety FA Target No. 1: Marcus Epps, Philadelphia Eagles
Marcus Epps has had quite the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are surging toward the Super Bowl at the moment. He had 94 tackles on the season including four for losses. He also has six pass deflections and one forced fumble.
2022 was the first season the former sixth-round pick from Wyoming was a full-time starter. A former Minnesota Viking, Epps might not be ready to leave considering he plays for a Super Bowl-contending team — but then again, it’s hard for such franchises to pay everyone.
Still, the Browns have had some success in signing some big-name players under Andrew Berry and the addition of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator could intrigue Epps, who would be given a huge role. He’s another young player with a lot of upside and that’s something that the Browns are searching for.
There is a plethora of other free-agent safeties available this offseason, so while this is a starting list of players for the Browns to take a look at there are many other options to consider. A familiar name in M.J. Stewart as well as a divisional foe in Terrell Edmunds are a couple of other names to watch as well.
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