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Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry has wisely decided to invest in the team’s secondary over the years. The NFL is a passing game, after all, and the Browns have a mostly solid safety group led by Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill, and depth at the cornerback position that is the envy of many teams with a group led by Denzel Ward and including Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson Jr., and Cameron Mitchell.

It is a smart play, and the Browns will need the secondary to play up to its potential this fall as they will be facing 12 of the top 32 wide receivers, including five of the top six, as ranked by Pro Football Focus during the 2024 season. Starting in the AFC North Division, the Browns will face Ja’Marr Chase (No. 3 overall) and Tee Higgins (No. 32), and George Pickens (No. 30) of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While the prospect of having to deal with Chase twice a year sounds daunting on paper, the Browns have done a top job defending the Bengals top pass catcher as Chase has only posted one big game - a 10 reception, 119-yard day - against Cleveland. In the other four matchups, the Browns have limited Chase to a total of 17 receptions for 133 yards and no touchdowns.

Looking at the rest of the AFC, the Browns will be dealing with Tyreek Hill (No. 2 overall) and Jaylen Waddle (No. 23) of the Miami Dolphins, and Davante Adams (No. 6) of the Las Vegas Raiders. Cleveland has faced Hill three times, and like Chase he posted one big game - 11 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown - while the Browns have kept him mostly in check in the other two meetings with a combined nine receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.

It is Adams who has been a thorn for the Browns, however, as he has 20 receptions and four touchdowns in two career meetings with Cleveland.

Turning to the NFC, Cleveland will take on Ceedee Lamb (No. 4) of the Dallas Cowboys, A.J. Brown (No. 5) and Devonta Smith (No. 16) of the Philadelphia Eagles, Terry McLaurin (No. 18) of the Washington Commanders, Malik Nabers (No. 25) of the New York Giants, and Chris Olave (No. 27) of the New Orleans Saints.

Brown has had the most success against Cleveland with an average of 26.7 yards per catch in two prior meetings, although the Browns have managed to keep him out of the end zone.

The Browns are talented in the secondary when everyone is healthy, and they will need to rely on that group heavily in 2024 as they face several of the league’s top wide receivers in their quest to return to the playoffs.

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