Last season former first-round pick Greg Newsome II was the primary slot player for the Cleveland Browns with mixed results. He has, however, expressed that he no longer wishes to play inside so if the team is looking for a new starter or just slot depth the draft has some intriguing options.
General manager Andrew Berry loves players with versatility, and this class has a lot of slot players that also play deep safety as well as an outside corner. Though the team has invested a lot in the position, in the modern NFL you can never have enough cornerbacks. Especially when Newsome and Denzel Ward are likely to miss time with an injury.
5
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
When looking for slot defenders you need good athletes with great speed and that’s what you get with TCU’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. Running a 4.41 40-yard dash, Hodges-Tomlinson is a top-level athlete that can flip his hips with ease and mirror his receiver in coverage.
The biggest issue with Hodges-Tomlinson is his size creates major concerns at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds. However, he is a lockdown corner in man coverage with his athletic gifts and if the Browns have a chance to draft him it would be a solid move.
4
Clark Phillips, Utah
If the Browns and new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz are looking for great ball skills they should focus on Clark Phillips. Phillips has really impressive ball skills and often finds himself in the right place at the right time. He tracks the ball in the air and reads the quarterback’s eyes at a high level.
In each of Phillips’s three seasons in college, he scored touchdowns on interceptions including two touchdowns this season with six interceptions overall.
3
Kei'Trel Clark, Louisville
Louisville’s Kei’Trel Clark provides nice versatility both inside and outside from the corner position. He played primarily on the outside but had some nice reps inside. Clark plays with great instincts and processes what’s happening in front of him quickly with good athleticism to react quickly.
Clark is a pretty good run defender as well with good strength to fight through blocks and a reliable tackler. Clark would be a player that provides nice versatility for a cornerback room that historically misses time.
2
Jartavius Martin, Illinois
Jartavius Martin has some fun tape. He is a physical tackler that loves to come flying in with the big hit. But he doesn’t sacrifice form trying to lay the lumber he is great in run support, and even when he allows receptions he quickly tackles his man and limits yards after the catch.
Martin played primarily as a slot defender but also saw significant snaps as a deep cover safety. This makes Martin the perfect match for the Browns who need depth in the slot as well as a deep free safety. Martin has fluid hips and is sticky in man coverage as a slot defender.
