BEREA ― Ronnie Hickman’s path to the NFL wasn’t necessarily like every other one.
Despite playing at one of the preeminent college football programs in Ohio State, the safety went undrafted in 2023. The Browns almost immediately signed him to a free agent contract after the draft, although there was no guarantees of making the roster.
By the end of that season, not only was Hickman starting for one of the league’s best defenses, but he was making a pivotal play in a playoff-clinching win on national television over the New York Jets. His interception return for a touchdown was the moment momentum fully tilted for the Browns in that game, their 11th win of that season.
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As Hickman enters his fourth season, the path he took to finding a place in the league remains engrained in him. He still carries the drive of an undrafted rookie just trying to make the team.
“The way I do everything,” Hickman said prior to the Browns’ sixth training camp practice Aug. 4. “Coach (defensive pass game coordinator Ephraim) Banda, when I first came in, he told me earlier, treat every day like the first day. So whether that’s meetings, whether that’s walkthroughs, whether that’s hydrating, the way you do anything is the way you do everything. So just trying to keep that same mindset.”
Hickman has played in 41 career games and started 26 of them. He started all 17 a year ago, and is penciled in as one of the starters on a Browns defense this season that’s still expected to be one of the better ones in the league, despite losing two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in a trade to the Los Angeles Rams.
Of course, that defense did get another young, talented pass rusher back in that deal in Jared Verse. However, part of why the defense is expected to be good in because of the secondary, and a big part of that secondary in Hickman.
How much longer, though, Hickman will be is the question, as he’s playing this season on a restricted free agent tender. What what question hasn’t done is lead other to question where his focus is as training camp heats up.
“One thing about Ronnie is that he approaches everything, no matter the situation, the same way,” Banda, who had previously been the safeties coach before getting an offseason promotion, said. “His consistency is elite. His ability to stay focused on what’s in front of him is elite. If I bring him something that’s in the future, he’s like, ‘Not right now, coach’ — I don’t care what it is, it could just be what we’re eating for lunch — he is so focused on right now.
“I’m happy for him. Obviously, he wants to have more and get more, which is great — I think everyone desires that in life. And we’re going to do everything we can to make sure he has a great year. I will say this: I love coaching players in contract years. Makes my job a little easier.”
In many ways for Hickman it’s no different than where he was in August, 2023. Back then, he was fighting for a contract and a place on the roster.
This time, Hickman isn’t fighting for the roster spot, but he is fighting for the deal. With that deal would then come a continued spot on the Browns’ roster as one of the young pieces they’re trying to build a contender around.
“I’m always motivated, but I was glad just to sign and get the tender out the way and things like that,” Hickman said. “But the motivation is always at an all-time high for me. So I’m just glad to be healthy and compete out there with my guys.”
One of those guys out there now with Hickman at safety is a second-round rookie, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. The Browns traded back into the second round to pick the University of Toledo standout, a combination of size, versatility and athleticism teams crave at that position.
McNeil-Warren missed much of the offseason program dealing with an injury, but has already started to make his presence felt on the field in practice. Often, he’s lining up alongside Hickman and veteran Grant Delpit, who recently signed his second contract extension with the Browns, when they’ve gone to three-safety looks.
“For him to be at that size and move the way he does,” Hickman said of McNeil-Warren, :whether that’s the footwork, the bending and knees, the shoulder pad level, things like that are natural for a guy like him. So the sky’s the limit for him.”
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The same, Hickman believes, can be said for himself. He’s coming off a season where he had a career-high two interceptions, with seven passes defensed and 103 total tackles.
This season, Hickman is adjusting to a new defensive coordinator in Mike Rutenberg, who replaces the only one he had over his first three seasons in Jim Schwartz. The key to maximizing this season, and thus, his own potential, is making sure he understand what the new scheme asks of him.
“I think first things first is getting fully comfortable in this defense,” Hickman said. “Last three years it was the same defense under Schwartz. And this year it’s kind of new for all of us, especially the guys that are used to the past three years of that specific defense under Schwartz. So I think for me in my job is I got to be comfortable in it because I’m a vocal guy in the back end. So guys look to me for checks, guys look to me for calls. And that’s one thing I want to continue to excel in and be there for the guys.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: How Browns’ Ronnie Hickman hasn’t forgotten his past in facing an uncertain future
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
