Browns: Building secondary in free agency vs. 2021 NFL Draft

The 2020 Cleveland Browns finished their best season in ages. They flashed talent on offense and proved they could score on teams during the regular season and their playoff run. However, the Browns are still flawed on the other side of the team.

Due to a combination of injuries and a general lack of talent, the Browns’ defense did not supplement the offense. When the offense ran effectively, the defense seemed to falter.

The Browns did not necessarily lack talent on defense. Defensive end Myles Garrett finished with one of the highest sack totals in the NFL, and defensive end Olivier Vernon also did a fine job. The secondary had some talent, such as cornerback Denzel Ward and strong safety Ronnie Harrison. The team has players that can be the base of their defense.

Where Browns must make improvements

However, the secondary served as a detriment. Aside from the two aforementioned players, the group sustained season-ending injuries to second round free safety Grant Delpit and second year cornerback Greedy Williams. This limited their defense, especially because defensive coordinator Joe Woods’ scheme is built upon versatile safeties such as Grant Delpit. The team played backups, and the defense could not play to its potential as a result.

Going into the offseason, the group seems to be a priority. However, there are many ways the Browns can tackle the secondary. The team can choose to pay players with defined talent in free agency or it can choose to select younger, cheaper players in the NFL draft. Both options have different positives and negatives, but which option is preferable? It is time to learn whether free agency or the draft is better for the Cleveland Browns’ secondary.