Cleveland Browns: 5 safeties in the 2023 NFL Draft who could replace John Johnson III

With the Cleveland Browns releasing veteran safety, John Johnson III, they could look to the 2023 NFL Draft to find a replacement and a running mate for Grant Delpit if they are unable to sign a safety in free agency.

It is no secret to Cleveland Browns fans, and even to those on the outside looking in, that the team had quite a few glaring holes that the team needed to fill heading into this offseason. After the team was unable to work out a restructure of the contract of veteran safety John Johnson III, subsequently releasing him, another safety to pair with rising star, Grant Delpit, immediately rose up the list of needs for general manager Andrew Berry and the Cleveland front office.

With veteran defensive mind Jim Schwartz hired as the team's new defensive coordinator under head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns will certainly look to turn things around when it comes to opposing offenses. The unit showed flashes under recently-fired Joe Woods, but must be more consistent to truly compete in a stacked AFC.

With Schwartz overseeing the defense, I would anticipate Delpit to continue to play primarily around the line of scrimmage and in the box. I believe the team will be searching for a true free safety this offseason, with free agency seemingly their best shot to find an impact starter given the weak 2023 NFL Draft safety class.

It has been rumored that the Browns are setting their sights on Jessie Bates, former division rival and Cincinnati Bengal who is expected to hit free agency after the team failed to reach an extension or tag him. The 26-year-old, along with 25-year-old C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who had a breakout season in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles, lead a very solid group of free agent safeties, also including Julian Love, Taylor Rapp, Juan Thornhill, Donovan Wilson, and former Brown Jordan Poyer.

While I would anticipate Berry and the Browns going after one of these free agents, with Bates and Gardner-Johnson atop the list, they may see it fit to look to the 2023 NFL Draft to find a late-round fit at a bargain price, compared to the paydays that these top free agents are certainly after.

If the Browns do draft a safety to try to help replace Johnson III, keep an eye on these five names.

5. Ji'Ayir Brown, Penn State

Ji'Ayir Brown may be a name that Ohio football fans are already familiar with, as Brown excelled against the Ohio State while at Penn State, racking up 15 total tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery over his last two seasons when playing the Buckeyes. If they don't already, they certainly would be if the Browns were to draft him.

Brown is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife. He can hold his own in man coverage, excels playing in the box and has great instincts in zone. He has 117 tackles, 10 interceptions and 4.5 sacks over his last two seasons in Happy Valley, proving his versatility. While he didn't test overly well at the Combine, you can see on tape that Brown is plenty athletic, and has enough speed to at least be a split safety at the next level.

4. Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State

A converted cornerback, Anthony Johnson Jr. has the ball skills, athleticism, size, IQ and experience to help the Cleveland Browns early on in his NFL career at free safety. The redshirt senior just made the move to safety in 2022, so he is still learning the nuances of the positions and would undoubtedly benefit from working under a veteran coach like Jim Schwartz.

Even if Cleveland does bring in a veteran safety, possibly on a short-term deal, drafting a player like Johnson Jr. late in the draft would be a good idea. He can take some time, learn from a veteran, and step into the role of starting free safety after just a year or two.

If Johnson Jr. is asked to start right away, his 54 career starts in the Big 12 at Iowa State should have prepared him well. He can cover receivers and tight ends in man to man given his background at corner, and is very fluid and instinctual when dropping in zone. Running a 4.54 forty-yard dash at the Combine just backed up the play-speed that you see from him on tape, flying around the field. He was also a captain for the Cyclones, adding more-much needed-leadership to the defense.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein's comparison for Anthony Johnson Jr. is actually John Johnson III, so bringing in a new Johnson to complement Grant Delpit could be a fun, and effective, move for the Browns. Some may worry about his age, saying that Johnson Jr. may not fit within Cleveland's guardrails at 23 years old, but being projected as a later-round pick, I think the Browns could take a stab at the potential fit.

3. Christopher Smith II, Georgia

Another redshirt-senior, Christopher Smith II was a huge part of one of the best defensive units in the county the past two seasons at Georgia. Smith doesn't quite have the experience of Johnson Jr. from earlier, spending time behind some other top recruits and draft picks, but he was vital to the team's back-to-back championships that past two seasons.

At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, Smith is a little on the lighter end, struggling to battle through blocks and bang in the box and around the line of scrimmage. But the dude can cover. He is such a cerebral player, always seeming to be exactly where he needs to be to make a play on the ball.

In his last two seasons at Georgia, he racked up three interceptions in each campaign and totaled 95 tackles. This includes six for loss, so he has shown that he is not afraid to fly downhill to come and make a play in the run game as well.

Combining his smaller frame with his recent poor testing at the Combine could cause Smith's draft stock to fall a bit, possibly right into the laps of the Cleveland Browns with great value, although the Senior Bowl's Jim Nagy doesn't think a slow 40-time will change teams' opinions on Smith much at all:

Christopher Smith II has been a hot name at points throughout this 2023 NFL Draft process, with the stock trending downwards leading up to draft day. The Browns may need to take him at pick 42 if they want to ensure they can land Smith, which I'm not sure that I would do.

But if you can get him in the third or fourth round, I would absolutely take a flier on the upside and production of the 22-year-old Bulldog.

2. JL Skinner, Boise State

One of the most polarizing players in the 2023 NFL Draft is Boise State's JL Skinner. Skinner, a 6-foot-4, 209 pound, athletic freak-of-nature, naturally catches the eye of people all around draft circles. Even with his size, Skinner doesn't play like you would expect a man of his stature to play, seeming to excel even more in coverage that in run support from my tape study.

This is not the say that Skinner cannot play in the box, because he has shown the ability to do that, taking on blockers and laying big hits on ballcarriers. But where Skinner really thrives is in man or short zone coverage where he can use his blend of size and athleticism to glue himself to a receiver and make a play on the ball at the catch point. He is most impactful when playing downhill, attacking a ballcarrier at full-force in the run game as well.

Skinner was unable to test or work out at all at the Combine after suffering a torn pectoral while training, but his athleticism is clear on tape and would have likely translated well to the tests and workouts in Indy. This injury could obviously affect his draft stock, but could once again fall right into the waiting arms of the Cleveland Browns.

And with their need for a safety that can play in deep coverage, Skinner might be the perfect player for them to target in the 2023 NFL Draft.

1. Jartavius Martin, Illinois

Yet another redshirt senior, Jartavius Martin popped off the screen to me when watching the Illinois defense. Something that is hard to do playing alongside top corner Devon Weatherspoon and another highly-touted safety in Sydney Brown.

Specifically for the Browns, I think Martin is a perfect fit. With his experience, leadership, versatility and athleticism, Jim Schwartz should be pounding the table to get him. Martin played in 50 games over 5 seasons at Illinois, making an impact right away with three interceptions as a freshman. Playing between slot corner and free safety, Martin continued to make an impact throughout his Illini career, racking up three more interceptions in 2022, along with a career-high 64 tackles.

Martin has excellent ball skills and is a real threat with the ball in his hands as well. In man coverage, his fluidity, closing speed and length are all assets that allow Martin to hand with any receiver. His Combine performance backed up the athleticism you see on tape.

He was third among safeties with a forty-yard dash time of 4.46 seconds, had the FASTEST 10-yard split at 1.47, the HIGHEST vertical jump at 44 inches and the LONGEST broad jump at 11-feet-1.

Needless to say, this kid is absolutely electric. Martin was my favorite fit for the Browns before the Combine, just based on the tape. Now, seeing what he was able to do in Indy, his stock will surely be on the rise heading towards draft day.

Even after steadily climbing up draft boards since about mid-January, Martin is still projected at 103rd overall as a third-round prospect, according to NFL Mock Draft Database. If the Browns are able to grab a wide receiver or defensive lineman (interior or edge) in the second round, then Martin in the third or even the fourth round (Cleveland holds picks 98, 111, and 126) I would be overjoyed, as I truly think that Martin has what it takes to be an immediate impact player in the NFL, hopefully in Cleveland.

Honorable Mentions

Jammie Robinson, Florida State

Another veteran safety who aggressively flies downhill and around the field making plays. He is slightly undersized and did not test well at the Combine, leaving him just on the outside of the list.

Daniel Scott, California

Daniel Scott is a true free safety, who can absolutely FLY, running a 4.45 forty-yard dash. He has great size, athleticism and experience, making him a great possible flier late in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Jordan Battle, Alabama

Jordan Battle may not be the best fit for the Cleveland Browns right now, as he would likely play a similar role to Grant Delpit in the NFL, and will likely come off the board in the second round. But man, is he a very physical player that imposes his will across the middle and in the run game, with some good instincts in coverage as well.