Cleveland Browns: 5 free agents the Browns must target
Lamarcus Joyner, FS, Rams
Signing Lamarcus Joyner would be huge for the Browns because it means the team won’t have to put a premium on finding a safety in this spring’s draft.
A lot of mocks have Cleveland targeting Alabama free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to fix the position.
Adding Joyner would allow the Browns to use this asset elsewhere.
Joyner’s value is in his versatility as he can play corner, in addition to safety. His work in 2018 garnered the 27-year-old second-team, all-PFF status for stats like this…
Another good one from Pro Football Focus: Lamarcus Joyner is leading NFL safeties in passer rating allowed in his coverage area, at just 22.7 on 22 targets. He has intercepted three of those.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) December 4, 2017
The Browns desperately need help in the secondary, especially after the team released Joe Haden as the analytically driven front office tried to re-coup the money in the failed Brock Osweiler experiment.
Haden is a player obviously on the back end of his career, but he still could’ve helped the Browns.
With Haden in the fold, the Browns could’ve used McCourty at free safety, allowing Jabrill Peppers to play closer to the line of scrimmage as the strong safety. But when the Browns discarded Haden, the coaching staff had to come up with a new plan.
Joyner’s ability to help in different spots seems to make him an ideal fit in Gregg Williams’ defense. Williams, of course, was the defensive coordinator of the Rams prior to coming to Cleveland.
The Rams have a lot to take care of this offseason, such as making decisions on Sammy Watkins and corner Trumaine Johnson. Johnson is in a prime positioned to be stolen out of LA, and the Browns should jump at the chance.