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Cleveland Browns: 3 position battles to look out for in training camp

By Chad Porto

WESTFIELD, INDIANA - AUGUST 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up during the joint practice between the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park on August 15, 2019 in Westfield, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
WESTFIELD, INDIANA - AUGUST 15: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns warms up during the joint practice between the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park on August 15, 2019 in Westfield, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 17: Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 17: Andrew Sendejo #34 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

Safety

There is some intrigue at cornerback, namely what will happen with Greedy Williams and the nickel and dime corners, and who starts where. Williams is better than any third or fourth corner on the roster so it’s really a moot point unless Williams falls off completely. That said, the safeties on this team will have an interesting battle among themselves.

The three likeliest candidates are Andrew Sendejo, rookie Grant Delpit, and Karl Joseph. Joseph was dismissed by the Las Vegas Raiders in the offseason despite having a fifth-year option on him and Sendejo has reunited with his former Vikings coach, Kevin Stefanski. There isn’t a lock among them for various reasons.

Sendejo might be the most talented, or currently more accurate, accomplished at this point, but injuries caused the Vikings to move on from their starter. He landed with the Eagles but got cut by them after just a few months, and was back in Minnesota to finish out the 2019 campaign. Once a top tier safety in the league, injuries have made it difficult for Sendejo to stay on the field.

Joseph, on the other hand, saw poor play and injuries compound his time with the Raiders franchise. A former first-round pick, Joseph’s fifth-year option was declined, leading him to be a free agent in 2020. The Browns signed him to a one-year deal to see what he can do. Despite the optimism and numerous people lauding his talent, Joseph never produced. He was never able to generate turnovers, was constantly hurt and when he wasn’t, he seemed at times lost on the field.

As for the rookie Delpit, he’s a rookie. What can you really expect from him? Yes, he was awarded the 2019 Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best Division I collegiate safety. That doesn’t mean he automatically translates to the NFL. He might, he certainly has the skillset that coaches sand teams look for but the NFL Draft is often a crapshoot. You never know what rookies will step up and which one will leave you with drafter’s remorse.

The Browns will sometimes feature three safeties at a given time, so it’s likely that all three men will see significant time on the field.

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