Cleveland Browns: Nasir Adderley now a perfect draft target

The Cleveland Browns are still just a couple of pieces short. Delaware’s Nasir Adderley is a great candidate to fill their hole at safety via the draft.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey has taken his team from winless to possible playoff contenders in just two years. Taking phenom quarterback Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall last year in the NFL Draft certainly helped, but Mayfield isn’t the only talented player on Cleveland’s roster. The talent Dorsey has added in the span of two offseasons is staggering.

In the past week alone, Dorsey has added defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson in free agency and, of course, traded for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. But, the Browns still have some holes to address before they can truly call themselves Super Bowl contenders. First and foremost, the Browns need to patch the hole left at safety now with Jabrill Peppers heading to the Giants via the Beckham trade.

Originally, reports surfaced that the Browns could be in the running for former Seahawks defender Earl Thomas, but the Ravens were able to steal him away from Dorsey’s grasp. Now, the Browns will likely want to consider drafting a safety rather than turning to another free agent. Without a first-round pick, however, the Browns will have to look for a diamond in the rough on Day 2. Delaware’s Nasir Adderley could be a perfect fit for the Dawg Pound.

At 6-0, 206 pounds, Adderley’s length is perfect to work alongside Cleveland’s current free safety, Damarious Randall. Scouts have noted Adderley’s explosiveness and tackling ability which, if it translates, could give the Browns one of the best tackling safety duos in the league. Additionally, Adderley’s ball-hawking skills mirror Randall’s perfectly.

But for as many strengths as he has, Adderley isn’t a perfect prospect by any means. Most of his weaknesses stem from impatience, or a lack of response at his position. Thankfully, the Browns should be able to mask these due to the nature of their secondary play. Adderley won’t be the odd man out, because both Denzel Ward and Damarious Randall can cover a lot of ground quickly should there be a lapse in coverage.

All in all, everything Nasir Adderley does well mirrors what the Browns need perfectly. He can tackle well, has great ball skills, and his explosiveness makes him a great candidate for defensive coordinator Steve Wilks’s notably aggressive defense. If Adderley is on the board when the Browns pick at No. 49 overall, Wilks should be pounding the table for the front office to pick him.