4 players the Cleveland Browns can’t afford to lose in 2022

Greedy Williams

Originally this was going to be Troy Hill, but the Cleveland Browns made the boneheaded call to trade the Browns’ best tackling defensive back. This was a big mistake, especially since the team already lost M.J. Stewart, and now has to rely on a declining John Johnson, a bench player in Ronnie Harrison, and two guys who were too injured to show what they could the last (few) year(s) in Richard LeCounte and Grant Delpit.

Williams is among the taller defensive backs on the roster, and that length is going to be beyond important for the team to help make up for the lack of safety help. Being able to stretch over a receiver who gets behind you is key in not giving up big plays.

There’s also the hope that, with his larger frame, he gets better at tackling which wasn’t something he excelled at in 2021. He’s not Deion Sanders as a tackler, but he isn’t Jason Seahorn or Shawn Springs either. Williams will be someone the Browns rely on who can’t afford to get injured. There’s no telling what rookie Martin Emerson can bring to the table yet, and without Hill, the depth at that position is gone.