Browns sign fourth-round pick Howard Wilson

The Cleveland Browns have begun signing their draft picks, inking fourth-round cornerback Howard Wilson to a contract.

The Cleveland Browns have signed cornerback Howard Wilson, a fourth-round pick by the team in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The team announced the move on its website.

Wilson was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2016, his first as a starter, after leading the Houston Cougars in interceptions with five.

He is a little short on experience after playing in just three games in 2015 before tearing an ACL, but he did appear in all 13 games for Houston as a freshman and bounced back from the injury to be the team’s top cornerback last season.

His limited playing time is not the only concern for the 6-foot-1 and 184-pound Wilson, according to his draft profile at NFL.com:

"Will require additional time to hone his pattern recognition and instincts down the field. Has a very thin frame with skinny legs. Lacks desired muscular definition and needs a full year of work in an NFL weight program to pack on necessary muscle. Plays a little too upright at times. Scouts believe he could struggle early inside a complicated defensive scheme."

While the Browns need help in the secondary, the good news is that barring an injury they can work Wilson onto the field as a rotational player. Joe Haden, who may finally be healthy after offseason surgery on his injured groin, and Jamar Taylor are the starting outside cornerbacks, and Briean Boddy-Calhoun showed promise last season as a slot corner, so the urgency is not as acute for Wilson as it might be for some of the team’s other rookies.

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Given time to add some bulk and get up to speed with the NFL game, and Wilson may have the tools to be a valuable member of the Browns secondary for the next few years.