The Browns safety room is in trouble and needs an influx from the NFL draft
The Cleveland Browns need safeties. For the past few years, this position was rock solid, but not any longer. D’Anthony Bell was signed away in free agency by the Seattle Seahawks. Juan Thornhill was released with time left on his contract. Rodney McLeod retired.
Who is left in this group?
Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman would have to be considered the starters since they are the only ones who have any experience. Also in this room are Trey Dean and Chris Edmonds, who is on a one-year deal. Dean signed a reserve/futures contract in January.
RELATED: DRAFT PROFILE – JONAS SANKER
Jonas Sanker played four years at Virginia. He played some as a true freshman and appeared in all 10 games as a sophomore. In his final two seasons, he became the full-time starter. Sanker balled out in his junior year with 107 total tackles and 11 pass defenses. He had 98 tackles in his senior year with 273 for his college career.
To put this mildly, Sanker is a hitter. He is a dependable and consistent tackler. Sanker will come off his position to help in the run game and has no issue keeping up with tight ends.
Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images
With Sanker, there is an injury history, all with his shoulders. In his 10th grade year in high school, he had labrum surgery. In his first year of college, he had another surgery. He put off surgery after his second year in college and then had a third surgery.
He was part of back-to-back 8-man state titles in the Virginia Independent Schools Football League as a sophomore and junior in high school.
Sanker’s ranking is currently at #114, which places him in Round 4. The Browns pick #67 and #94 in Round 3, and #104 in Round 4. Safety is a huge need for Cleveland this year.
At the Senior Bowl this year, Dawgs By Nature’s Barry Shuck was able to interview Sanker and get his feelings about his tackling abilities.
S Jonas Sanker – Virginia
6’-1”, 210 pounds
40 time: 4.48
Projected round: 4
Q: What should NFL coaches and scouts be saying about you?
A: Someone with football wits, flying around the field fearless, and someone who brings excitement to the game. I enjoy sticking my head into a running back or a tight end and getting on the ground. To me, that is fun.
Q: Do you consider yourself more of a box safety?
A: I am very versatile at safety. I can be played in the box, or put back at either strong or free. I can move to nickel while I learn the game at the next level, but I am not going to be satisfied with playing there very long. I am a starting safety. I expect to remain a starting safety and being held accountable.
Q: Do you have any problem running down and helping in the run game?
A: I love running down. My jersey number is one of the first you see coming down to make the tackle. Safeties are the leaders of the defense and are the keys to communication. Veterans will help us young guys to adjust and bump over or create a shift.
Q: The Browns have been known to play some 4-2-5 and use a safety as one of the linebackers. How would you do be placed there?
A: I have played some 4-2-5 and already used to it. I was placed down in the box because I am a player who doesn’t hesitate to go after a running back. That position calls for someone who can play rough. You have to compete every play. You can have fun with disguises, but puts pressure on you to be established every down.
Q: Who are some of your favorite NFL players?
A: I like Minkah (Fitzpatrick), Derwin James, and grew up with Ed Reed and (Troy) Polamalu. I really don’t try to mimic anybody though because everybody places their strengths in a way. But I think there’s some stuff you can take from some people’s game like if you were watching someone like every way he gets to the ball or will blanket a player.
Q: The Browns feature a cornerback coach and a safety coach. What is the advantage?
A: That is a huge advantage. I would have someone that I can use to focus on honing on my skills and someone that is an expert that can teach. Someone to lean on. I don’t have a problem asking questions and want to improve. He is the coach for a reason, and if I can pick his brain and get better at my craft, I am all for it.
Q: How would you rate your coverage skills?
A: I would say an 8 out of 10. I am able to stay with a receiver and not expect help. I am a player that doesn’t expect something to come underneath. I am it. I watch a receiver’s tempo and decide how to adjust how I taper it off. There is not a specific style I prefer, just a defense where they have the safeties play all over the place and be interchangeable.
Q: What would you bring to the Browns?
A: A player who gives instant versatility. I can play sometimes in the box, sometimes over the top. A little bit of everything. Have someone in the slot and another deep in coverage but also one in the box. I like that and can play any of these. I am going to make a lot of tackles. I lean towards this.
Q: You came from a family of seven kids. How does a large family impact your life?
A: I am close to my siblings. My oldest brother probably had more impact on me because I saw that he struggled yet was persistent in whatever he was doing at the time. His journey was inspiring. My mom was a huge inspiration seeing her take care of the family with a selfless nature about her. She was always able to put her feelings aside. I want to emulate that myself. No matter how angry my siblings got, my family never held grudges. A new day every day.
The Jonas Sanker Award @JonasSanker
4x @ACCFootball DB of the Week ‼️
The most in school history. #UVAStrong | #GoHoos ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2RV9RTvz91— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) November 18, 2024
Q: Word is your parents pushed academics over athletics.
A: They were tough. One time I had a “C” average in one class and I was forced to miss several basketball games until I got that average up. At the time, I thought a “C” average wasn’t that bad. That was my argument. Why did they feel the need to hold me out of games because of a “C”? But looking back, I see the message – how you do anything is how you do everything. My dad wanted my focus to come back to school and studies because I wanted a life in sports more. Today, my dad has Alzheimer’s. That has changed everything.
Q: You were a high school basketball star. At one point why did you choose football over pursuing a basketball career?
A: I loved the sport, but there are so many limitations. You got to be at least 6’-5” now just to play guard. I always had more fun playing basketball, but I felt my chances of playing professionally were better in football. It was a tough decision because I really didn’t want to give up basketball. I always enjoyed it more.
Q: You grew up a sports trading card collector. What got you into that?
A: I just loved sports so much so it’s just like me finding a way to be close to it. We weren’t allowed to watch too much TV, so it was my way of staying close. I had cards that I put into binders, but it wasn’t like I was sleeping with them. I would sort players in binders by teams. And if I got really bored, I would re-sort them by their college teams.
Q: How do you think that NIL has changed college football?
A: Just thrown up the politics that was already in the sport to begin with. It is crazy. They need to find a better way to manage it. It has changed how players want to work to build something at their school and work through when times are tough. You still have to play the game on Saturday.