The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Safety a draft priority despite recent additions
Cal’s Davis, Gophers’ Winfield could be targets in second round
Safety is still a position of need for the Browns despite their signing two men to oneyear contracts.
Safety is still a position of need for the Browns despite them signing Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo to one-year contracts in free agency.
The only safeties on the roster from last season are second-year players Sheldrick Redwine, a 2019 fourth-round draft pick from Miami (Fla.), and undrafted J.T. Hassell, who spent the first 10 weeks on the practice squad. Hassell played in four games last season and made three tackles, all in the game in Pittsburgh Dec. 1.
Starting safeties Damarious Randall and Juston Burris plus backups Eric Murray and Morgan
“My dad had a lot of heart. That’s what I looked up to in him. To see him go out there against great guys you see on TV all the time. That’s something I modify my game after.” — Antoine Winfield Jr.
Burnett — all acquired by former general manager John Dorsey — are gone from last year’s team.
So sheer numbers dictate current general manager Andrew Berry must find a safety or two during the three-day draft that begins April 23 or sign an undrafted safety during the feeding frenzy “Has issues coming to that begins at the conclusion balance and getting controlled, of the draft. wrap-up tackles…
The Browns have seven Peripheral route awareness picks in the 2020 draft can be spotty from – 10th in the first round deep zone … Needs to and then 41st overall (second shorten stride length in round), 74th and 97th leveraged pursuit to prevent (third round), 115th (fourth overflows.” round), 187th (sixth round) Winfield is the son of and 244th (seventh round). Antoine Winfield, a firstround They do not have a fifth draft by the Bills in round pick. 1999. Father and son are
There is no doubt taking both 5-foot-9. an offensive tackle with the The father played 14 10th overall pick is a must years in the NFL, so clearly for Berry. He will likely being shorter than a typical use “the best player available” safety was not a problem philosophy by the for Antoine Winfield time the Browns are picking Sr. in the second round. A “We’re about the same couple safeties ranked in size,” Winfield Jr. said at the early 40s by draft analysts the Combine. “My dad had should still be available a lot of heart. That’s what I when the Browns are looked up to in him. To see on the clock. him go out there against
Ashtyn Davis, 6-foot1, great guys you see on TV 202 pounds from Cal, all the time. That’s something and Antoine Winfield Jr., I modify my game 5-foot-9, 203 pounds from after. It’s not about how big the University of Minnesota, you are or how tall you are. could be targets for It’s about how much fight the 41st pick. you have.”
“I don’t want to be seen “Winfield isn’t as tall or as a one-level player,” Davis as long as teams like and said at the NFL Scouting he’s an average athlete, Combine. “I can play in but he’s an interchangeable the box. I can play up high. safety who can flat out If I had to choose, I’d say play,” Zierlein wrote. “Winfield I’m a ball-hawk, but I like is stout and strong to play in the box as well with above average body and stop the run game.” control and balance. He
Davis intercepted four can bang on tight ends in passes as a junior and coverage and support the two as a senior after being run near the box. switched from cornerback “Highly instinctive and to safety following is always under control… his sophomore season. Watched tape at an early
“Late-comer to the game age with Pro Bowl cornerback who has rare physical father … Recognition gifts that can’t be taught of play design puts him in but can be capitalized opportunistic positioning on,” Lance Zierlein wrote … Lack of length shows in his scouting report on up as a tackler … Belowaverage NFL.com. “Monster athletic height and length tester and scouts for jump balls downfield … rave about A-plus character…Smooth Sluggish to recover when in his backpedal he bites too hard on the paired with exceptional cheese.” closing burst…Does Winfield made 58 tackles not lack toughness…Trigger and intercepted seven and demeanor to race passes last season with the into the alley in run support. Golden Gophers.
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