Cleveland Browns: 3 Players standing out early in training camp

1. T.J. Carrie, Cornerback

With the aforementioned Greedy Williams stealing the spotlight (as the top rookies of each class typically do), it’s easy to overlook some of the returning players who are trying to keep said rookie from taking their job. At cornerback, Terrance Mitchell has often been looked to as the player battling with Williams, and for good reason.

Mitchell was a solid player for the Browns in 2018 after joining them as a free agent addition in the offseason. Mitchell, who followed John Dorsey from Kansas City to Cleveland, started seven of eight games played in his first campaign and was solid when not sidelined due to injury.

However, he wasn’t the only new addition to get plenty of playing time as T.J. Carrie had joined the team as well. The former Oakland Raiders corner started eight games in his first season wearing orange and brown and finished with 74 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, and an interception. While the stat line was impressive, he did have his fair share of struggles as well, which explains why he’s become the forgotten man.

Carrie doesn’t plan to remain the fourth option behind Mitchell, Williams, and Denzel Ward though, and has started off camp looking to prove he belongs. He made one solid play early in workouts when guarding Jarvis Landry in the red zone. He also picked off a throw from Baker Mayfield which was intended for OBJ.

Both these plays were a nice reminder of the talent that Carrie has. The 29-year-old defensive back started 36 of 60 games with Oakland before hitting free agency in 2018.

That’s when Dorsey gave him a rich $31 million contract that covers four seasons. Just over half that deal is guaranteed but with the additions to the roster, Carrie is going to have to work hard to earn the rest of the money.

So far in his second camp with the team, he seems up to that task.