Cleveland Browns Free Agency Preview : Backup Cornerbacks

admin | February 23, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

In this daily series, Jack Duffin and the OBR staff will look at every free agent and assess whether or not they match the Cleveland Browns’ forthcoming requirements this offseason

In this daily series, we will look at all 633 unrestricted free agents who are scheduled to reach the market on March 11th at 12:00 ET, when teams can begin negotiating with them.

Despite this, many transactions will be made before that time, with the combine serving as the start of the unofficial tampering period. Some will not be able to attend because they were franchised before the 4pm ET deadline on March 5th or were extended by their existing team.

Before somebody starts complaining about why we’re covering x position when we don’t need a player there. It is critical to examine every aspect of a roster since what you may obtain in free agency greatly influences what you do with extensions, trades, and the draft.

A team like the Cleveland Browns uses free agency and trades to fill any starting positions on the roster because they want to win now rather than develop a starter later in the season.

They will use their backup and depth positions to build starters for the future, so when Andrew Berry makes his decisions later in the offseason, keep a watch on who They might replace it next year.

We will go over all of the unrestricted free agency names across all positions, explaining why we believe they are targets or not, as well as others that are in the murky area yet excite us.

Players who are restricted free agents or exclusive free agents are not included because they are unlikely to reach free agency due to their frequent returns, which should not be a focus.

How these articles will be written: we will look at all of the starting quality players on a daily basis: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safety.

Then we’ll go over the rotational/backup players, releasing them one by one: quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

Then we will post two articles per day for the final set.
The depth/special teams choices include quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

Plus, a VIP set of articles in which the OBR crew will each add what they would do this offseason in the following positions:

quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, tackles, guards, centers, edges, defensive tackles, linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.

How Many in 2024?

The Cleveland Browns will most likely have five or six cornerbacks on their final 53-man roster in 2024; I would go toward six. Based on prior years, they will also have two on the practice squad.

Who is not included? Exclusive free agents.

These are players with fewer than three accumulated seasons (6+ games on the roster), therefore the team can keep them for the league minimum with no assurances. These players have little negotiation power and can only sign or retire.

Players include Chase Lucas for Lions, Josh Blackwell for Bears, Gregory Junior for Jaguars, and Alex Austin for Patriots.

Restricted Free Agents

These are players with three accrued seasons, so a team can tender them, but the money is not guaranteed, and other teams can then offer them contracts.

The team that owns their rights can match the agreement to keep them or take the selection listed below by letting them walk. Teams rarely make bids on these players.

Jack: If we needed a boundary, he would be at the top of my list of prospects for a low-cost upside trade. If they’re seeking for a backup corner, I believe it’s because Newsome has been or will be traded, and they want a veteran to fight for the starting slot corner position.

Yaidom hasn’t played much there, and while he’s capable, I’d rather have someone proven than rely on a projection.

Jack: An outstanding special teamer who excels at slot cornerback is exactly the type of player they should be going for. I was thrilled with him as a special teamer in Cleveland, but he didn’t look great on defensive snaps; when he transferred to the Texans, the defensive aspect of his game improved dramatically.

I expect him to stay with the Texans, but if he becomes available in free agency, I will definitely call. He does not provide many forced incompletions, but his special teams compensate for this.

Jack: He’s okay; it’s not my ideal plan if you move on from Newsome, but he provides you with a seasoned veteran who can fight with Mitchell for the position. However, I believe we will come up with better names as we proceed.

Jack: We have our second Texans slot corner on the list, thus one of them will most likely be with a new team next season, which is wonderful news for teams like the Cleveland Browns, who could use one.

King can return kicks, whilst Thomas plays on special teams. If the Cleveland Browns can obtain something between picks 50 and 80 and then one of these two cornerbacks, it would be a home run move to preserve a high-powered secondary while being more cost-effective.