Browns to reportedly sign cornerback Terrance Mitchell
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have reportedly made another minor splash in free agency as the club is poised to sign much-traveled cornerback Terrance Mitchell.
The Cleveland Browns continued to rework their secondary on Wednesday as the club will reportedly sign cornerback Terrance Mitchell when the new league year begins today at 4 p.m.
Mitchell comes to the Browns from the Kansas City Chiefs and will receive a three-year, $12-million contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Former Chiefs’ CB Terrance Mitchell intends to sign a 3-year, $12 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2018
Mitchell was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Houston Texans, making little impression, before joining the Chiefs prior to the 2016 season.
This was one of the most underrated plays of the Patriots game. Heck of a play on the ball. Cooks is a 4.3 guy, by the way. pic.twitter.com/ZfmjrmOMrq
— RIP Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) September 21, 2017
In two years with Kansas City, Mitchell appeared in 22 games and made 11 starts, nine of which came last season. He was benched for the Chiefs Monday night game against the Denver Broncos in late October, but head coach Andy Reid said Mitchell took the demotion “like a pro,” according to Arrowhead Pride, so that’s good.
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When he was on the field last season, Mitchell was often the target of opposing quarterbacks as he played opposite cornerback Marcus Peters. He struggled early on, but he did not lose his confidence, although his production left something to be desired.
According to Pro Football Focus, Mitchell finished the year with a grade of 52.3, which ranked him at No. 94 among cornerbacks and far below the trio of incumbent cornerbacks in Cleveland as Briean Boddy-Calhoun (84.1 grade, No. 24 rank), Jason McCourty (83.9, No. 27) and even Jamar Taylor (74, No. 71) were all significantly better.
If the Browns are looking at Mitchell as a depth signing, then this has some potential. Even though he has bounced around the league, Mitchell will turn 26 in May so he is a nice addition of a young player with experience.
He has also been through a lot in a short amount of time, so this change may help him find a system that finally works for him.
Next: Is the door open for Browns to draft Denzel Ward?
Still, the Chiefs are the fourth team in as many years to part ways with Mitchell, so it might be best to temper any expectations about what Mitchell might bring to the table.