Cleveland Browns: 3 better free agent options than Earl Thomas

Clayton Geathers

This isn’t the same kind of signing as a Logan Ryan type. Clayton Geathers is, at best, a starter in the NFL. Not a playmaker, as he’s only had one interception and two forced fumbles in his career, on top of zero sacks. He’s not someone you sign long-term, as he’s had a history of injuries and unimpressive play. He’s also not someone you bring in expecting to put your defense over the top.

He’s a backup at worst, and a replacement starter at best. That said, that’s not a bad reason to sign him. The Cleveland Browns’ depth on defense, let alone in the secondary, was already bad before injuries to Grant Delpit and Kevin Johnson. The team is going to have more injuries on both sides of the ball as the season goes on, that’s just to be expected, so having a guy with experience who can slide into the starting lineup as needed isn’t the worst idea possible.

He’s already an upgrade over the rest of the backup safeties and has shown to be able to stick a hit when on the field. That’s more than a lot of defensive backs can claim in 2020. While Geathers isn’t going to redefine an entire team defense, he can be just enough to get a team through a rough patch.

While the idea is to go get a flashy starter for the Browns defense, the facts are that the Browns, on paper, didn’t do a great job upgrading that side of the ball this offseason. Someone like Geathers may not seem like a massive upgrade but on this team he may very well may be. A guy like Earl Thomas is obviously the sexier option; big name, super talented, Hall of Fame-bound, but he’s also a headcase who can’t stay out of the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Geathers isn’t flashy but he’s steady. You know what you’re getting from him and that’s more than you can say for Thomas.