Skip to main content
Advertising

Free Agency

2020 Browns free agency: Safety class offers wide variety of options

The new league year is just around the corner, and the Browns' roster could have a bit of a different look to it by this time next month.

Throughout the week, we're going to break down Cleveland's roster situation at each of its position groups and look across the league at the top names likely to hit free agency starting March 18.

We're starting with the final line of defense, the safeties. This could be a group due for one of the biggest makeovers on the entire Browns roster.

Who's back?

Morgan Burnett - The veteran was a regular in Cleveland's defense, starting all eight of the games in which he played, before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. He finished with 41 tackles, two sacks and an interception.

Sheldrick Redwine - The fourth-round selection saw his playing time increase during the second half of his rookie season. Redwine wound up starting five games and finished with 42 tackles and two passes defensed.

J.T. Hassell - The undrafted rookie spent a large chunk of the season on the practice squad. He appeared in four games and collected seven tackles.

Unrestricted free agents

Juston Burris - Burris nearly made the 53-man roster out of training camp but was ultimately released. He returned via waivers Week 3 when the team was in a serious bind because of injuries. He finished the year with nine starts in 14 games, 32 tackles and two interceptions.

Eric Murray - Acquired from the Chiefs in a trade for DE Emmanuel Ogbah, Murray helped the Browns as both a safety and nickel cornerback. He missed most of the second half of the season with a knee injury. 

Damarious Randall - Since he was acquired in a March 2018 trade with the Packers, Randall has been the Browns' every-game starter at free safety whenever he was healthy and active. After playing in 15 games and intercepting four passes in 2018, Randall started and played in 11 games this past season. He's ranked 53rd on NFL.com's list of Top 101 free agents.

Check out behind the scenes photos of Browns coaches and executives watching combine workouts

Top Safeties Available (rankings from NFL.com’s top 101 free agents)

18. Anthony Harris, Vikings - He picked the right time to have a career year, posting six interceptions and 11 passes defensed while anchoring the back end of Minnesota's defense. Harris worked closely with Browns pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jeff Howard, who coached defensive backs in Minnesota last season.

29. Devin McCourty, Patriots - Though he's 32 and entering his 11th season, McCourty hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. He intercepted five passes -- his most in a season since 2012 -- and forced two fumbles while starring on one of the league's best defenses.

33. Vonn Bell, Saints - The former Ohio State star has been a regular starter in New Orleans for the past four seasons, accumulating at least 80 tackles per year.

42. Jimmie Ward, 49ers - Ward is coming off one of his best NFL seasons because it was his healthiest. He started 13 games and accumulated 65 tackles in a year that saw him play both at safety and nickel cornerback.

51. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Bears - Clinton-Dix has started all 16 games in four of his seven NFL seasons, including last year's stint with the Bears. He had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, last season.

60. Karl Joseph, Raiders - The former first-round pick had a promising 2019 cut short by a foot injury. He's amassed 236 tackles over four seasons.

69. Rodney McLeod, Eagles - McLeod has been an every-game starter for the past seven seasons. He's intercepted eight passes over the past four years in Philadelphia.

77. Adrian Phillips, Chargers - He made the Pro Bowl in 2018 as a special teamer. Over six seasons with the Chargers, Phillips has 24 starts.

95. Clayton Geathers, Colts - He logged 22 of his 34 career starts with the Colts over the past two seasons. He had a career-best 89 tackles in 2018.

Other names to know: Tony Jefferson (free agent), Tavon Wilson (Lions), Tre Boston (Panthers), Jordan Lucas (Chiefs), Michael Thomas (Giants).

Check out Andrew Gribble's picks for the 2020 NFL Draft first round and the Browns' pick in the second round.

Related Content

Advertising