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The Cleveland Browns could reunite with a familiar face to bolster their defense and secondary.
Browns analyst Tony Camino of DawgPoundDaily urges Cleveland to sign Jabrill Peppers to bolster its secondary. Peppers was selected 25th overall by the Browns in 2017. He played two seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the New York Giants.
Since leaving the Browns, Peppers had success with the Giants and New England Patriots, but was a surprise cut this offseason by the Patriots. With Peppers now being a free agent, Camino urges Cleveland to pursue the safety.
“Admittedly, Peppers isn’t the best fit for what the Browns need positionally,” Camino wrote. “He’s spent most of his time as a free safety who can step into the box or play in the slot, depending on the play call. Ronnie Hickman is set to be the starting free safety after showing promise in his first two years. So there wouldn’t be a seamless fit for him in the defensive backfield.
“The reality is Peppers is easily near the top of free agent defensive backs available after putting up very good showings in his last 23 games,” Camino added. “Cleveland has a clear need for extra bodies in the secondary, and Peppers would create a problem Jim Schwartz would like to have.”
Peppers would add some depth to the Browns’ secondary and could also chip in on special teams. He would also be a veteran leader for Cleveland’s young defensive backs, which could entice general manager Andrew Berry to make the move.
Peppers is Confident He Fits Into Any Defense
Although Camino doesn’t think Peppers fits into the Browns’ defense, the veteran safety disagrees.
Peppers was shockingly released from the Patriots, and insider Phil Perry reported that it was due to the scheme fit.
“For some of the same reasons Kyle Dugger (who is still with the team) is not viewed as a great fit for the new Patriots defense, Peppers was not viewed as a perfect match for this scheme,” Perry wrote.
After the report came out, Peppers took to social media to claim he’s versatile and will fit any defense in the NFL.
“Going on 9 years in this league. I’ve had 7 HCs & 6 DCs lol There is no scheme you can place me in where I won’t find a way to be effective,” Peppers wrote on X.
As Peppers says, he believes he can make an impact on any NFL scheme. So perhaps the Browns do take a look at bringing back their former first-round pick.
Hickman Expects a Bigger Role With Browns
As Camino notes, a potential knock on reuniting with Peppers is the play of Hickman.
Hickman was undrafted in 2023, but has been a key player on the Browns’ defense. Entering the season, Hickman says he wants a bigger role in Cleveland’s defense.
“As a player, you want that,” Hickman told cleveland.com when asked about stepping into that larger role. “You got to kind of have that mindset that it’s OK if it’s on you. We all want those roles.”
Hickman projects to start as the Browns’ free safety. He recorded 45 tackles and one fumble recovery last season.
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