Andrew Berry should be feeling pretty good about himself these days.
After an incredible draft that’s just part of an amazing offseason for the Cleveland Browns, they are in a great position moving forward.
Speaking of the draft, eight new Browns selected by Berry are eager to get their professional careers off the ground.
Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and others will all be looking to make an impact and prove their worth in the NFL.
For the Browns, who out of that group will step up and make the biggest impact next season?
Focusing on Defense
The bulk of changes this offseason for Cleveland needed to be on the defensive side of the football.
Mission accomplished for Andrew Berry who added pieces both in free agency and through the draft.
Selecting Newsome II and JOK with the first two picks of the draft made the focus clear.
Is this revamped #Browns defense now a top 10 unit in the NFL? 👀
Cleveland's PFF Draft Grade: 🅰️ ➕ pic.twitter.com/2JJzgvVNbA
— PFF (@PFF) May 2, 2021
The talent was there defensively last season, but COVID and injuries had the depth chart spread thin.
Cleveland’s defense finished 21st in yards allowed last season and 22nd in points allowed.
Watching Chad Henne scramble for a game-ending first down in the playoffs last year was enough to have fans clamoring for defensive help.
This Browns defense gets off the field against Chad Henne on 3rd and 14
— Aaron Goldhammer (@HammerNation19) April 30, 2021
With young stars like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward helping solidify the defensive core, the table is set for one of the new guys to come in and step up in a big way.
Newsome Becoming a Nuisance
The joke was made plenty on draft day, but the history of Browns players with the last name “Newsome” is pretty darn good.
Expect that trend to continue with Greg Newsome II who will rise as the star of this draft class for Cleveland.
Losing Greedy Williams to injury last year left the Browns in a weird position with him.
The former LSU standout had high expectations coming into Cleveland yet has barely seen the field in two seasons.
They aren’t sure exactly where he stands at the pro level.
Training camp could be the chance for Newsome II to take the starting cornerback spot opposite of Ward.
He was one of the best lockdown corners in all of college football last season.
With Ward taking the oppositions top wideout more often than not, Newsome II should excel in shutting down number twos.
Browns CB Greg Newsome II allowed a 0.0 passer rating on 3rd/4th down last season.
Only CB in the Draft class to do so. pic.twitter.com/HrFlbxdD9g
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 30, 2021
New #Browns CB Greg Newsome II allowed 0.44 yards per coverage snap in 2020
Lowest in the 2021 NFL Draft class pic.twitter.com/2u3IJON4aX
— PFF CLE Browns (@PFF_Browns) April 30, 2021
Newsome II did have just have one interception in his college career.
Racking up a couple of those in his rookie season will immediately put him on the map and put his impact in the spotlight.
Not the Only One
While Newsome II should make the largest splash on the Browns in this draft class, others will play a large role too.
Owusu-Koramoah is another guy who will get opportunities early.
The Browns are in need of linebacker help and were shocked to see JOK fall as far as he did in the draft.
He played in a linerbacker-safety hybrid role at Notre Dame, so it will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Joe Woods incorporates him.
A similar experiment failed in the form of Jabril Peppers, who actually has played well with the Giants since being traded.
Ideally, JOK would be put in a more productive role.
NEXT: 2 Draft Picks Who Might Not Make The Browns Roster
So much talent brought in. I watched video on all of them and don’t want to lose a single one. DT coming out of everywhere. How can the Browns Def not be the leagues dominant D? I think of a player and another one comes to mind, its just off the charts, I can’t keep track of all the threats this pass rush possesses. So looking forward to this anticipation coming out.
Reid and Henne don’t pull that rabbit out of the hat with Clowney, Johnson III, Anthony Walker, Delpit, Newsome and JOK on the field. All are sound at breaking down and tackling.