Browns: 5 storylines to follow heading into training camp

SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 21: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield watches the San Diego Padres face the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 21, 2021 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JUNE 21: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield watches the San Diego Padres face the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 21, 2021 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /
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BEREA, OHIO – AUGUST 16: Daniel Ekuale #96 of the Cleveland Browns and other members of the defense works out during training camp on August 16, 2020 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
BEREA, OHIO – AUGUST 16: Daniel Ekuale #96 of the Cleveland Browns and other members of the defense works out during training camp on August 16, 2020 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Who will become starters on the defense?

Joe Woods is on the hot seat, and admittedly, it isn’t completely fair. After all, he’s replacing potentially eight starters from his 2020 squad. Some of those eight are returning to the team but that doesn’t mean that they’re going to be starting.

Sione Takitaki and Ronnie Harrison are two of the returning starters who may not be doing that in 2021. Jacob Phillips started to show flashes near the end of 2020 and the team did just sign Anthony Walker. Since the Browns mostly run two linebackers (though, sometimes three), it could be the end of Takitaki as a full-time starter.

Harrison was the Jaguar’s third-best safety and was traded to Cleveland with the idea he’d be a spot-starter for 2020 due to the injuries. Now that Grant Delpit is returning from and with the signing of John Johnson III, it’s very possible that Harrison isn’t a starter in 2021 either.

Not only that but both defensive tackles and the other starting cornerback as well need to be replaced and filled in. Will rookie Greg Newsome starts opposite Denzel Ward, or will it be Greedy Williams? It may even be Troy Hill, the other major free-agent signing for the secondary besides Johnson.

We know that returning starters Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward are secured, but that’s it. Jadeveon Clowney and John Johnson are also secure in their starting gigs, with Walker being assumed as well but they’re not returning starters. Clowney replaced last year’s starter, Olivier Vernon, who had a good season of stats, but his actual play wasn’t great. He got most of his sacks in three of the games he played in while being a relative non-factor in the rest.

There’s going to be a lot of intrigue to see who secures their spot alongside the five established names.