Browns Have Clear Need at Safety

Anthony Harris, S, Vikings

Anthony Harris is the first and best option available to the Browns at safety. Harris has spent five seasons with the Vikings, but only the last two as a starter. In just two seasons as the starter, Harris has proven to be one of the best coverage safeties in the NFL. Need more proof? Harris has combined for nine interceptions, and 17 passes defended in those two seasons. While coverage is his biggest asset Harris was able to show some versatility to his game in 2019. What will the Browns get should they decide to sign Harris to a lucrative deal?

Career Best Season in 2019

Harris intercepted a career-high six passes while racking up 60 tackles. For good measure, Harris threw in a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit along the way. Harris mostly played free safety over the last two years but did show the capability to play in the box and cover in the slot in 2019. This versatility and the fact he is only 27 years old make him on of the best free agents available regardless of position. If that is not enough, Pro Football Focus provides even more information showing his value.

Pro Football Focus has Anthony graded as the eighth-best free agent on the market. He has earned this status with an overall grade of 89.0 last season while being the number one graded coverage safety at 91.6. Harris has also been a sure tackler with a missed tackle percentage of only 5.6% over the last two seasons. If you are a team looking for a safety, Harris checks every box. 

The Browns need a safety, have a former Vikings coach as the new head coach, and have a defensive coordinator that was the secondary coach of the Superbowl losing 49ers. Should be a no brainer for the Browns, right? No, the Browns have a lot of big contracts on the books and more to hand out over the coming seasons. Harris’s highest-paid safety on the market price could have the Browns searching for talented but cheaper options. There is also the fact the Vikings will undoubtedly try to keep Harris in Minnesota.

Justin Simmons, S, Broncos

First things first, John Elway is not letting this young safety get out of Denver. With $68 million in cap space at his disposal, I expect that he make Simmons one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. In the slight chance that Simmons does find his way to free agency, he becomes a very interesting prospect for the Browns. While the money would ridiculous, like with Anthony Harris, Simmons had one of the finest seasons a safety could have in 2019.

Simmons Breakout 2019

Justin Simmons came to the Broncos via the third round of the 2016 draft. By 2017 he had taken a starting safety spot playing 13 games. Simmons had a solid first season as the starter highlighted by a 65-yard interception for a touchdown against the Dolphins. He then would build on that first season in 2018 with 97 tackles, three more picks, and four passes defended. While both of these seasons and his age would have already made him an upper-tier free agent, it was last year that placed him at the top.

In 2019 Simmons once again showed exceptional tackling with 93 totals stops and a missed tackles rate of only 7.9%. He also continued to make plays in the passing game with four interceptions. So what made 2019 stand out? Simmons added a career-best 15 passes defended to his already well-rounded game. Even with half that number, it places him in elite company for 2019. These numbers would make him the highest-rated safety in the NFL (90.8) per PFF. Simmons has a very bright future ahead, but it is likely in a different shade of orange.

Jimmie Ward, S, 49ers

We have reached the part of the list where the Browns start to have options in a reasonable price range. Anything could happen, and someone could decide to lavish a big contract, but it isn’t very likely. Ward is coming off his finest season also and will be looking for a payday the 49ers likely can’t afford. That places the Browns, among other teams, in the envious position of getting Ward on a reasonable contract. Why, did you say? Well, Ward’s most significant question mark is not production but durability. The 13 games started, plus the playoffs were the highest of his six-year career. This contract will fall into the high-risk, high-reward category for the team that goes all in.

Mostly Healthy 2019 Season

As stated previously, Ward started a career-best 13 games for the 49ers vaunted defense in 2019. He was part of a secondary that finished number one in passing yards allowed. The 49ers secondary only gave up 300 yards passing twice all season. The 49ers rode a great defense and ground game to the Superbowl, and Ward had a big hand in that. He would finish the season with 60 total tackles, eight passes defended, and two tackles for loss. Even with no interceptions on the season, Ward still graded (84.2) out as one of the best safeties in the NFL. With his former secondary coach Joe Woods the defensive coordinator, expect to hear his name associated with the Browns till he signs somewhere.

Vonn Bell, S, Saints

In his four NFL seasons, Bell has been a solid player for the New Orleans Saints. At just 25 years old, he still has the time to live up to his second-round status. The problem is Bell has never shown to be much of a playmaker in the passing game with only one interception and 14 passes defended in his four seasons. Vonn does bring toughness and a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage. Over his career, he has eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. If you are looking for the prototypical box safety, then Vonn Bell should be at the top of the shopping list. For the Browns, the money it would cost for a one-dimensional safety does not make sense. He could bring some thump in defending the run.

Finally a Full-Time Starter in 2019

Bell did not have a career year like the other three candidates above. He did provide something none of the above have proven as of yet, consistency. Vonn has topped 80 tackles every year of his career regardless of his status as a starter. He did this once again in 2019, with 86 tackles. Bell also had his first career interception, five fumble recoveries, four tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. He did return one of those fumble recoveries for a touchdown. As stated previously, Vonn is a box safety and certainly can help a team, but with a 9.5% missed tackle rate, the Browns may want to pass on this one.

The Best of the rest: Devin McCourty, New England, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Chicago, Tre Boston, Carolina, Tavon Wilson, Detroit, Clayton Geathers, Indianapolis, Adrian Phillips, Los Angeles, Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia

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