Cleveland Browns: Time to revisit Bashaud Breeland with Gaines out
By Randy Gurzi
With cornerback E.J. Gaines suffering an apparently significant knee injury, the Cleveland Browns may want to revisit the idea of adding veteran Bashaud Breeland
Two positions on the Cleveland Browns look completely different from a season ago. The most notable is the quarterback spot as Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield and Drew Stanton are all new to the team.
The other spot is cornerback as only Briean Boddy-Calhoun is returning, and he’s even being used as a safety. That’s because they added rookie Denzel Ward and free agents Terrance Mitchell, T.J. Carrie and E.J. Gaines.
That proved to be a lot of depth and all were capable of starting. That depth though has been questioned as Gaines went down with a knee injury Sunday and early reports suggest it is significant.
With that being the case, the Browns may need to reconsider a name they kicked the tires on this offseason already in cornerback Bashaud Breeland. A former fourth-round pick out of Clemson, Breeland played for the Washington Redskins from 2014-2017.
He’s had his ups and downs in his career but has been a playmaker at times as well. Breeland has eight career picks and an impressive 59 pass defenses. Last season he recorded his first career pick-six and had a personal best 19 pass breakups.
Cleveland wasn’t the only team to show interest in him though as both the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts have been linked to him.
Next. Mayfield needs time with starters. dark
While Gaines was looking like he would be a reserve, he was still capable of starting for the Browns. Now with him gone, Breeland could offer the same depth and ability to start if anyone ahead of him falters.