3 remaining free agent options for Cleveland Browns ongoing need at cornerback
By Josh Brown
With the initial round of free agency done and the draft behind us, the Cleveland Browns could still use some help at one position, cornerback
Andrew Berry and his front office have once again done a great job filling the Cleveland Browns roster with talent. This offseason, he has beefed up a defense that sorely needed it after bolstering the offense a year ago.
However, with the initial round of free agency done and the 2021 NFL Draft behind us, the Browns could still use some help at one position, cornerback. They have added some pieces in free agent Troy Hill and the first-rounder out of Northwestern Greg Newsome. However, there are still some questions.
Most of those questions start and end with staying healthy. Greedy Williams just missed an entire season with nerve issues in his shoulder. Will he be the same? Denzel Ward has never played a full slate of 16 games.
Newsome had multiple injuries during his time at Northwestern. Troy Hill wasn’t a full-time starter until last year. Can he repeat what he did with the Rams? Could the Browns use another free agent corner? Who is even left that could or would provide depth?
3. Bashaud Breeland
Bashaud Breeland could challenge for the best cornerback left on the market, which is why he is at No. 3 on this list. He is likely to want to start wherever he goes and will definitely want starter’s money. He was essentially Kansas City’s top corner last season. So it would be hard to see him going somewhere and fight for a starting role. But, in the end, the market may dictate that.
Breeland had a solid overall in 2020 with the Chiefs. He played and started in 11 games last season, missing five games total. Four of those games were for violating the league’s policy and program on substance abuse. Breeland took ownership of the situation and returned to help his team get to the Superbowl.
On the field, Breeland allowed a 50 percent completion rate in 60 targets along with four touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 78.3. He also finished the year with 38 total tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He did have a missed tackle rate of 17.4 percent. These numbers are not what a team expects out of its No. 1 corner, but they would make for a solid starter should he find himself searching for a job.
The Chiefs still need corner help, so a reunion is the most likely scenario for the 28-year-old corner.