The Browns real defensive needs aren't that many. To hear people talk, they need like 32 new starters. Nah!
Cornerback is the real need. Randy Gurzi wrote another great article outlining the real cornerback sitrep and listing the top two veteran free agent targets (Malcolm Butler and Trumaine Johnson.)
It's refreshing to read a writer who doesn't generalize excessively, as he points out that Boddy-Calhoun and McCourty scored in the 80s with PFF (so they don't need to replace everybody, get it?)
Randy correctly concludes that the more experienced, just as young, and 6'1" Johnson is the more desirable player for the Browns.
Johnson excelled in Gregg Williams' defense before having a mediocre season in 2017 in a new system. Knowing Williams, along with his system, should make him at least consider coming to the Browns.
Like almost everybody else, Randy thinks the Browns will be a tough sell for free agents this offseason. I think that's being overhyped based on their horrific win/loss record and reputation for instability.
Is or is not John Dorsey the new GM? What about Todd Haley and Gregg Williams? And (once again) any player who takes a few minutes to examine the current roster will see a whole bunch of young, emerging talent.
If they're not superstitious, they can't expect Dorsey not to find a quarterback or quarterbacks, or to draft poorly in general for the first time in his career.
Trumaine Johnson in particular will understand the impact which he himself would have on this defense.
Digging deeper, McCourty is getting up there in years, and a move to free safety (or a hybrid role) could be coming (and that's partly why I don't concider free safety the urgent need that most of you do).
But yeah, that means the Browns need at least two new cornerbacks.
Very few college cornerbacks excel as rookies. Those who manage to be above average play 100% press/man, and Williams doesn't run that.
That's why a veteran like Johnson needs to be one part of this. Dorsey can no doubt draft quality corners on day two, and even day three in this particular draft, but even the best of them won't be ready for primetime in 2018:
Unlike running back, cornerback might just be the second-hardest position to master in the NFL. This is partly why the prices for veteran corners has gone through the roof (Spotrack projects 9 and 11 mil/year for Johnson and Butler respectively).
...what's that about Joe Haden? Get your head out: He was not and is not as good as he used to be, and his salary exceeded his production by several miles. John Dorsey probably would have released him too. Great guy, but you can't get sentimental about this. Ask PFF. He was TOAST.
The Steelers signed Haden for chump-change, and no doubt Sashi Brown would have beaten that offer to keep him around, but Joe wasn't having that (Brown tried to get him to renegotiate and he refused).
I'm not saying Joe Haden is washed up yet (although that's possible with his injuries), but he's absolutely NOT elite anymore.
I know, look at that smile! Look at him rooting for the Cavs!
Grow up business is business get over it.
But I digress: Dorsey will probably add three cornerbacks (not counting undrafteds). It might be even more.
Brien Boddy-Calhoun is ideally the designated slot corner. He has played well outside, but just isn't big or physical enough to excel there.
McCourty is 30. He is not a long-term solution at cornerback, which (along with his twin brother in New England) makes me think he'll at least play more free safety here in 2018.
Jamar Taylor was a big disappointment after playing well in 2016, and has probably used up his second chances. He makes too much money and is likely outta here.
There may be some cornerback sleepers lurking on this roster like Micheal Jordan, who is entering his third season (and is 6'1" and fast). Gregg Williams knows more about these guys than any of us do, but we shouldn't dismiss them out of hand.
Jordan, in particular, will be competing to START in 2018.
As I've already said, free safety might be a need, but the three current candidates should include Nacua, Peppers, and in my opinion McCourty.
Nacua was undrafted, but aside from his level of competition I can't figure out why. He has all the traits and physical tools to play center field in the NFL.
Peppers is more of a projection, since FREE safety is the one back seven position he didn't play in college, and expecting him to excel there as a rookie was a tall, tall order.
But Peppers, too, has the physical tools to excel at free safety. It's more complicated with Peppers, however, since just like some quarterbacks can never process information fast enough to succeed in the NFL, some free safeties never manage to read opposing offenses correctly with any consistency.
Peppers is a really smart guy, however, and should absolutely not be counted out at that position in only his second season.
McCourty is an old vet, and would have a very short learning curve if he's moved to free safety. Nobody else on the planet seems to realize this, but Gregg Williams' third option should approximate that other McCourty in New England in short order if all else fails.
Strong safety is covered by Kindred, and maybe Peppers.
In fact, if Jabrill Peppers proves inadequate at free safety, Gregg Williams will tweak his defense to get both of these guys on the field at the same time as often as possible, because Kindred is just that good.
That's it for the REAL needs in the Browns secondary. Cornerback for sure, and free safety to MAKE sure...maybe.
Most likely, four players (excluding undrafted free agents) will be signed or drafted, including three cornerbacks.
I know that some of you think it should be six or seven or ten, but happily you're not in charge. A good GM might overstock a position group to intensify competition and have insurance, but won't sign or draft players he is pretty sure he'll have to cut.
Jason McCourty, Brien Boddy-Calhoun, Jabrill Peppers, and Derrick Kindred aren't going anywhere. The secondary should top off at 10-11 players.
Guys like Jordan and Nacua have high floors; even if they don't make the 2018 Pro Bowl, they can play special teams and are at least mediocre backups (with great upside).
Dorsey might just sign two veteran free agent cornerbacks here, given McCourty's possible transition to more free safetyish roles and Boddy-Calhoun's itty-bittyhood.
He'll draft the rest, knowing he might have to cut one or two.
You people don't get it: General Managers can't be cutting their draft picks a month after they drafted them. They have to consult with their coaches about guys like Jordan and Nacua, and be as efficient as they can.
Business is business. Draft picks and cap money are assets. They can't waste those assets. YOU people might think the Browns need three safeties and six cornerbacks, but that's not your job, and you won't get fired if you flush guys you drafted (including more than a couple day three picks) down the terlet.
Nor can a GM just win every bidding war no matter how much it costs. What if Sherlock Holmgren had won the bidding war for RG3?
...but Dorsey has a good shot at Trumaine Johnson in this market, provided somebody else isn't stupid enough to guarantee him like 14 mil/year...which could happen...Holmgren is retired right?
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