Heading into this season, the real hope for the Cleveland Browns to have any shot at a playoff run was if the defensive unit returned to its 2023 self, which was one of the best in the league. That plan hasn’t changed, but without guys like Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Martin Emerson, who will miss the entire season from injuries, that task is looking more and more challenging.
I certainly have concerns about depth at linebacker, but overall, the rookie Carson Schwesinger has been impressive all camp. And as long as Mohamoud Diabate is healthy sooner than later, I think this group will be solid with guys like Winston Reid and Jerome Baker ready to step up.
One position where I have gone from confident to shaky at best is cornerback. Don’t get me wrong, Denzel Ward is one of the best in the league, and Greg Newsome would be a starter for most teams in the NFL, but there isn’t much depth behind that in a league where a nickel is basically a starter, and both Ward and Newsome have a history of injuries.
In a likely scenario where Ward or Newsome has to miss extended snaps, this secondary becomes a liability with Cameron Mitchell as the next man up. Having that extra starting guy (Emerson) was such a benefit the last two seasons with Ward and Newsome missing so many snaps.
The Browns still have questions at nickel corner but made a quiet change recently, moving Nik Needham from S to CB from preseason game No. 1 to No. 2. I'd keep an eye on the nickel spot tomorrow.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 22, 2025
“He’s been doing that in practice," Kevin Stefanski said Thursday. "I think he’s…
Friday evening, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN reported that the Browns are making some roster changes with Nik Needham moving to cornerback. It’s unclear if he’s looking to jump Mitchell at this point, but with an interception in the Week 1 preseason game, he’s being moved to provide more depth.
Stefanski was high on Needham in Friday’s media time, and there is a good chance that we will see a lot of him in today’s preseason finale vs. the Los Angeles Rams. I’m not sold Needham completely addresses the concern about this Browns secondary and their depth, but at least there is some action.