Browns: 4 players to trade for before the NFL Trade Deadline

Marcus Maye

The Browns have some really good corners in Greedy Williams and Greg Newsome. They have an ok one in Denzel Ward. The rest are….eh. The safties, however, are bad. Just, really bad. John Johnson has a PFF grade of 57.4, which is really bad considering how vaunted he was coming over from Los Angeles, and early 30 points down from 2020 (85.6). Somehow, he’s the best the Browns have to offer. Ronnie Harrison has a 54.3 grade on PFF and he’s prone to violent outbursts that hurt the team. Grant Delpit has a 51.4 grade and it turns out he’s really bad at tackling.

That’s the one skill trait safeties are supposed to have that cornerbacks don’t. Let’s not even get into Richard LeCounte, who has been so lost he can’t even play steady snaps on special teams week to week. He was deactivated for three games and then had to suffer the indignity of Jovante Moffatt taking his spot.

The Browns need a safety who can actually do something. We’ve seen all facets of the defense improve week to week but the safeties. It’s hard to keep blaming Joe Woods when the defensive has, objectively, played better in recent weeks. Well, played better except at safety.

Getting someone like Marcus Maye would do wonders for the Browns. Send over Ronnie Harrison and/or Grant Delpit in the deal and make it happen. Maybe send over Odell Beckham if you have to. That way you can extend Maye if you feel so inclined.

Update: After writing this, the Washington Football Team was rumored to be shopping around Landon Collins as well, another potential fit. He comes with him a huge contract but he’s in the final year of “back-breaking money” and if he fails to impress, the Browns can easily cut him while eating just a few million dollars in penalties over the next two years.