Browns: Building secondary in free agency vs. 2021 NFL Draft
By Adam Burruss
How Browns can improve in free agency
The Cleveland Browns under Andrew Berry are aggressive in attacking need. However, they are self-aware and tend to avoid overpaying. The front office also keys in on areas such as age and scheme fit. On the surface, free agency can seem like the lesser option for the team.
The Browns are officially in their window for contention. Free agents are typically more proven players that can contribute immediately. If the team approaches free agency smartly, their ceiling can increase significantly.
Of course, the players matter more than anything for free agency. As of right now, players such as Saints safety Marcus Williams, Vikings safety Anthony Harris and Jets safety Marcus Maye are available. The Browns desperately needed a competent free safety last season after the loss of Grant Delpit, and all three of these players have excellent range and cover well. All three can immediately contribute to the team and excel. Additionally, there are some lower cost players that are riskier such as Indianapolis safety Malik Hooker. Hooker experienced many injuries, but he flashed talent as a free safety. He is an option if the Browns choose to be cheaper in free agency.
The secondary consists of more than safeties, though. The cornerback market is currently robust. Right now, Bengals cornerback William Jackson III, Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton and 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman are all proven veterans who can do well in man coverage. The Browns probably want to invest in outside corners and nickel corners, and this free agent class has both.
However, one issue is money. Yes, the Browns do have a lot of cap space. However, the cap is going to be lower in this upcoming season than in the past. The team also has to extend their core players such as cornerback Denzel Ward and quarterback Baker Mayfield soon. Spending heavily in free agency can affect their future more than their present. Is it truly worth limiting the team’s flexibility to pay for free safeties and cornerbacks?
The Browns can immediately improve if they approach the secondary aggressively in free agency. However, it can also backfire and restrict them. Let’s see how the draft parallels with this.