Acquisition of CB Sheldon Brown Immediately Improves the Browns

It was a trade like this that was the reason the Browns were stockpiling draft picks in the first place. To give up a few middle-round draft picks (a 4th and a 5th) and LB Alex Hall for CB Sheldon Brown and LB Chris Gocong seems almost like a no-brainer, and Terry Pluto certainly agrees. Some will look at Brown’s age – he is 31-years-old – and that he was unhappy with his contract in Philadelphia as a couple of problems, but how can anyone argue with the fact that the Browns have now acquired a guy who will instantly become their best player in the secondary?

The Browns were looking for ways to become better instantly, and this will certainly help. The rumblings for the Browns to pick safety Eric Berry with the seventh overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft are getting louder, and with good reason. Berry would be able to improve the safety position, as his physical play should serve him well. Better yet, Berry would not be asked to be the sole savior of the secondary, now that the Browns are equipped with two solid starting cornerbacks.

Though Gocong has his troubles, particularly against the pass, he is known for being effective against the run in addition to being a solid special teams player, something that really gets head coach Eric Mangini excited. It also can’t hurt to add yet another player to the linebacker carousel the Browns like to use. After all, depth at a position is not something fans are all that used to.