It’s the defense, dummy

 If there was any doubt which side of the football John Dorsey would address in the 2019 National Football League college draft this weekend, it was answered loudly in the seven-man class.

Having taken care of the offensive side of the football last season to the point where the Browns became a scary team in the second half of the 2018 season, defense was the major target this year for the club’s general manager.

Five members of the newest class, including the first four selections, will play under the watchful eye of new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and his staff.

Cornerbacks Greedy Williams, the club’s first pick of the lottery in the second round Thursday, and Donnie Lewis Jr., the final pick in the seventh round Saturday, join safety Sheldrick Redwine, a fourth-rounder, in the secondary.

Inside linebacker Mack Wilson, arguably Dorsey’s best pick (the first of two round-five selections) of this draft, joins fellow backer Sione Takitaki (third round) in an effort to strengthen the club’s weakest area on that side of the ball.

Placekicker/punter Austin Seibert (the other fifth rounder) and offensive tackle Drew Forbes (sixth round) round out the class, which strains to register on the scale of well-known candidates.

Williams, one of the highest rated corners this year, skidded surprisingly halfway through the second round, falling into the Browns’ lap for reasons that have not been verified. His selection was a no-brainer for Dorsey.

Redwine, who is comfortable playing corner, either safety or in the slot, became an obvious choice for those reasons. That versatility should play well in the many and varied Wilks schemes.

Lewis, if he makes the club, most likely will collect his paycheck through special teams work due to a very crowded secondary field.

When Takitaki was selected in round three, my first reaction was who is this guy? My second was Mack Wilson was still on the board and had a third-round grade while at least one NFL scout projected Takitaki for free agency.

In the end, it turned out Dorsey got it fright, just backward. It took him two extra rounds to realize it. Wilson, who played well for coach Nick Saban at Alabama, for some reason was still around in round five and the GM didn’t hesitate.

Anyone who plays full-time for Saban is well prepared to make a successful transition to the next level. One draft guru compared Wilson to another Saban alumnus, inside linebacker C. J. Mosley, who tortured the Browns for five seasons with Baltimore before moving on to the New York Jets.

Don’t be shocked if Wilson, who once proclaimed himself, via Twitter, “THE best linebacker in the country,” beats out Joe Schobert for the starting role at middle linebacker. He is a stronger tackler and is not a stranger at dropping back into pass coverage.

Wilson, whose real first name is Lyndell, is an absolute steal, much like linebacker Genard Avery was in the fifth round of last year’s draft.

Takitaki, meanwhile, probably will play predominantly on special teams, where his aggressive nature will pay dividends. It’s that hell-bent nature that enabled assistant GM Eliot Wolf to successfully persuade Dorsey to take him way too early.

Forbes, who played left tackle at Southeast Missouri State, is projected as a guard in the NFL and a long shot, at best, to make the final cut since Dorsey loaded up the offensive line room with several veteran free agents during the offseason.

Drafting Seibert, who kicked many an extra point following a Baker Mayfield scoring pass or run at Oklahoma, is a Dorsey warning shot that incumbent kicker Greg Joseph shouldn’t get too comfortable.

Sunday: The final (for now) grade of this draft.