Does Ronnie Harrison also deserve an extension?
The Cleveland Browns needed a safety when Grant Delpit went down with an Achilles tear in 2020. General manager Andrew Berry traded for Ronnie Harrison in exchange for a fifth-round pick sent to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Harrison only played in 11 games, starting seven, for Cleveland last season due to the combination of acclimating to his new system and an injury. During that time, the Alabama product had 38 tackles, seven passes defended, one sack, one interception, one quarterback hit and one touchdown.
For all of that, Pro Football Focus graded Harrison at 74.7 for the season including a coverage grade of 74.4. His overall grade ranked tied for ninth among safeties.
Delpit has returned this offseason from his injury while Berry also added John Johnson III in free agency. Johnson is considered one of the best safeties in the league, third-best graded for PFF.
The combination of the three safeties has defensive coordinator Joe Woods excited about the versatility they provide stating “You are always trying to put yourself in a position where you have favorable matchups.”
In particular, Woods took time to praise Harrison’s development from last year to this year. “With Ronnie, I was watching film yesterday, I said, ‘Who is that guy in the post?’ ‘They were like that is Ronnie.’ ‘Ronnie?’ Just in terms of what he has done so far working on his movement skills and bending more in his backpedal, he looks like a different guy, and he has a natural feel when he is in the box,” Woods said. “I think he is set up to have a really good year for us.
Harrison is also set to be a free agent at the end of this season.
Extension talk has been a hot topic for this Cleveland team. Their franchise quarterback, Baker Mayfield, their top running back, Nick Chubb, their top cornerback, Denzel Ward, and their offensive lineman that had a great season last year, Wyatt Teller, are often discussed among extensions. Harrison’s upcoming free agency has not been the same topic of conversation as those four.
With Delpit returning and Johnson’s big deal in free agency this year, it could be difficult for the Browns to allocate resources to keep the former Crimson Tide defensive back. As the team prioritizes which players to sign, Harrison could be the odd man out even if he has the kind of season that Woods thinks he could.
While Berry may make an attempt to get Harrison signed to an extension this season, it is much more likely that he will prioritize Mayfield, Ward and Chubb. Teller joins Harrison as, seemingly, lower priorities for the team but could also get an extension.
Cleveland may not extend Harrison but that may not be an indication of his skills but an indication of the team’s priorities in a salary cap league.
