Over the next few weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group or draft storyline at ClevelandBrowns.com.
In our Road to the Draft series, we'll take a deep dive into the top prospects available at each position group. We're continuing with the safeties, a group that could be heard from a lot on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Why the position matters for the Browns: Cleveland shored up its safety room — and thus decreased the level of need for the position in the draft — by adding John Johnson III on the first official day of free agency. Johnson was the Browns' most coveted player of the free-agent class, and his acquisition gives Cleveland a young core of safeties in Johnson, Ronnie Harrison Jr. and Grant Delpit, who missed all of his 2020 rookie season with an Achilles injury. Sheldrick Redwine, Jovante Moffatt and Elijah Benton round out the group, but the Browns could opt to add more depth and competition with any of their nine 2021 draft picks.
The top dog in this year's class: Trevon Moehrig is widely predicted to be the top safety off the board, but he isn't expected to be drafted until the final picks of Round 1. Before the Browns signed Johnson, Moehrig — who registered seven interceptions, 21 passes defensed and 124 tackles in three seasons at TCU — was a popular option for their first pick at No. 26 but now isn't being linked much to Cleveland.
Rounding out the top five: Richie Grant, the 2020 Jim Thorpe Award winner out of Central Florida, has first-round potential and is believed by some analysts to be the best safety of the class. He's most likely to be selected early in Round 2 and could be out of reach for the Browns, who pick near the end of the round, but there's plenty of other options that should be available that day. Jevon Holland (Oregon) and Hamsah Nasirildeen (Florida State) are two names to monitor and possess starting potential — although neither would be needed to immediately start with Cleveland. Andre Cisco (Syracuse) and Jamar Johnson (Indiana) round out the top five on Dane Brugler's position rankings on The Beast from The Athletic.
How many first-rounders?: Likely just one, and that's Moehrig. Grant could be in the conversation for the last few picks of the round, but the bulk of the safeties in this class will are pegged for Day 2 or 3, which will give the Browns plenty of options with their bevy of later picks if they don't address the position early.
Quote to note: "Last year's NFL Draft didn't have a first-round safety, but difference-making rookies such as Antoine Winfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Jeremy Chinn (Carolina Panthers) were key picks in the second round. Although not as deep, this year's safety class is similar because none of the prospects below are viewed as first-round locks, but there are several from this group who can be strong contributors from Day 1." - Brugler in his "Top 10 safeties for 2021 NFL Draft"
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Over the next few weeks, as the 2021 NFL Draft gets closer and closer, we're spotlighting a different position group each day at ClevelandBrowns.com.
Our Road to the Draft series will dive deep into the top players available at each position group. In this series, we'll be analyzing what the Browns have on hand and how that may affect the team's decision making with its nine selections.
TCU safety Trevon Moehrig (7) celebrates his interception with teammates Ross Blacklock (90) and Ochaun Mathis (32) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Louis DeLuca)
Missouri's Tyree Gillespie catches a ball as he participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts Monday, March 22, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Southern California safety Talanoa Hufanga participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
American Team defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen of Florida State (25) during the second half of the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Missouri's Tyree Gillespie runs as he participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts Monday, March 22, 2021, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
American Team defensive back Richie Grant, of Central Florida, grabs an interception during the American Team practice for the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
TCU wide receiver Derius Davis (12) and TCU safety Ar'Darius Washington (24) celebrate Davis' touchdown catch against Oklahoma State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 29-22. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
American Team defensive back Joshuah Bledsoe (1), of Missouri, and defensive back Richie Grant (27), of Central Florida, celebrate after an interception during the American team practice for the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
American Team defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen of Florida State (25) listens to a team mate during the American team practice for the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)
Southern California safety Talanoa Hufanga (15) celebrates after his interception against Utah in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Hufanga was selected to The Associated Press All-America first-team defense, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Indiana defensive back Jamar Johnson plays against Ohio State and during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Oklahoma State running back Dezmon Jackson (27) is stopped short of the goal line by TCU defenders Ar'Darius Washington (24) and Dee Winters (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Florida wide receiver Kadarius Toney (1) breaks away from Missouri safety Tyree Gillespie, left, on his way to a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Missouri safety Tyree Gillespie covers a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
TCU safety Ar'Darius Washington (24) defends against Texas Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
TCU safety Trevon Moehrig (7) in action as TCU played Purdue in an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
TCU safety Trevon Moehrig (7) celebrates an incomplete pass to Oklahoma wide receiver Drake Stoops (12) during an NCAA College football game, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 33-14. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Indiana defensive back Jamar Johnson (22) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Purdue wide receiver Jackson Anthrop (33) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Oregon safety Jevon Holland celebrates after sacking Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan during second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
TCU safety Ar'Darius Washington (24) defends during an NCAA football game against Iowa State on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. Iowa won 37-34. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Syracuse's Andre Cisco (7) signals for an incomplete pass during an NCAA college football game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
TCU safety Trevon Moehrig (7) defends during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 33-14. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Syracuse defensive back Andre Cisco (7) plays against Pittsburgh in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Florida State defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen pursues a play in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, in Boston. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet (84) breaks the tackle of Southern California safety Talanoa Hufanga (15) on his way to a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Oregon safety Jevon Holland, center, intercepts a pass in front of Stanford wide receiver Osiris St. Brown, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Oregon safety Jevon Holland (8) intercepts a pass in front of Auburn wide receiver Sal Cannella (80) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Oregon's Jevon Holland runs between California's Daniel Scott, left, and Evan Weaver, right, during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Chris Pietsch)
Indiana defensive back Jamar Johnson (22) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Bloomington, Ind. Ohio State won 51-10. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant (27) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina State Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida defensive back Richie Grant covers a Stanford play during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida State defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen (23) knocks the ball from Boise State running back Andrew Van Buren (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boise State in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
