The Cleveland Browns haven't been big players in free agency, but they did make a couple of nice signings, I think. Both on the defensive side of the ball, both from the Los Angeles Rams. Both in an area of need, too.
Cleveland had 11 interceptions last year, a below-average total. So they've remade their secondary with safety John Johnson (pictured; 3 years, $34 million) and cornerback Troy Hill (2 years, $9 million). Both were starters for a Rams defense that's been one of the best in the league in that regard with those players in the lineup.
As starters for most of the last four seasons, Johnson and Hill have each recorded 7-8 interceptions. That's helped the Rams put up 63 total, nearly 16 per season. In that timeframe, only New England (helped by recording 25 in 2019) has more interceptions. Cleveland was a below-average 18th over those four years.
| TEAM INTERCEPTIONS, 2017-2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | Tot |
| New England | 12 | 18 | 25 | 18 | 73 |
| LA Rams | 18 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 63 |
| Kansas City | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 63 |
| Buffalo | 18 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 63 |
| New Orleans | 20 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 63 |
| Pittsburgh | 16 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 62 |
| Miami | 9 | 21 | 13 | 18 | 61 |
| Washington | 16 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 60 |
| Indianapolis | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 58 |
| Minnesota | 14 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 58 |
| Baltimore | 22 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 57 |
| Seattle | 14 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 56 |
| Chicago | 8 | 27 | 10 | 10 | 55 |
| LA Chargers | 18 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 54 |
| Jacksonville | 21 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 54 |
| Tennessee | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 52 |
| NY Giants | 13 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 50 |
| Cleveland | 7 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 49 |
| Tampa Bay | 13 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 49 |
| Philadelphia | 19 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 48 |
| Atlanta | 8 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 47 |
| Denver | 10 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 47 |
| Green Bay | 11 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 46 |
| NY Jets | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 46 |
| Cincinnati | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 45 |
| Carolina | 10 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 44 |
| Houston | 11 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 41 |
| Arizona | 15 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 40 |
| Detroit | 19 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
| Las Vegas | 5 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 38 |
| San Francisco | 10 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 36 |
| Dallas | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 36 |
The Browns have ranked average to slightly below-average in sacks in those years; they can stand to get better in that regard, as well. But better coverage and more playmaking ability in the secondary should help. I'm not sure the Browns will have a top-12 fantasy defense, but they'll be improved. The Rams, paying a price defensively (I think) for the cap hit they took from trading away Jared Goff, probably won't be as good.
--Andy Richardson