NFL free agents 2020: Dallas Cowboys’ Byron Jones, New York Jets’ Brian Poole lead available cornerbacks

Cleveland Browns vs. Arizona Cardinals, December 15, 2019

Cleveland Browns defensive backs Greedy Williams (L-R), Juston Burris and Denzel Ward sit quietly on the bench late in the fourth quarter, December 15, 2019, at State Farm Stadium. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — With high draft picks used the last two years on cornerbacks, the Browns are unlikely to be inclined to spend big on the position this offseason.

They have Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams in the fold. Both missed four games in 2019, which led to Cleveland ranking 21st in the NFL with a 61.0 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.

As a reminder: the Browns are projected to have $51.7 million in cap room, according to Spotrac.com and OverTheCap.com, which places them around the league average as the team with the 15th-most space. The NFL salary cap this offseason is projected to be between $196.8 million and $201.2 million.

If not the NFL Draft, could the Browns still bolster their cornerbacks in free agency? Find out who is available in this portion of cleveland.com’s free agency primer. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on March 16. Free agency officially begins two days later. Here is what has been reviewed so far for the upcoming free-agent class:

Top 50 overall free agents

Top quarterbacks

Top running backs

Top wide receivers

Top tight ends

Top offensive tackles

Top guards

Top centers

Top defensive ends and outside linebackers

Defensive tackles

Top linebackers

Top safeties

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings Week 14

Detroit tight end Isaac Nauta (89) is tackled by Minnesota's Trae Waynes (26) after catching a pass during a December game in Minneapolis. AP

Cornerback will be a position to watch for AFC North Division rival Baltimore, which has three players needing new contracts. Before getting into the top 10 at the position, based on PFF grades, here are some additional free agents:

• Mackensie Alexander, Minnesota (65.7)

• Eli Apple, New Orleans (63.8)

• Brandon Carr, Baltimore (65.3, team option)

• Antonio Hamilton, New York Giants (67.5)

• Jonathan Joseph, Houston (64.0)

• Logan Ryan, Tennessee (64.9)

• Aqib Talib, Miami (55.4)

• Trae Waynes, Minnesota (65.1)

Alexander and Waynes could be players to keep an eye on, considering Browns coach Kevin Stefanski’s ties to Minnesota. Hamilton is not listed among the top 10 because he played just 132 snaps in 2019. Now, on to the top 10 cornerbacks. Their 2019 cap hit and age for the 2020 season is included.

Jimmy Smith

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (22) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Baltimore.AP

10. Jimmy Smith, Baltimore

PFF rating: 65.6

2019 cap hit: $15.8 million

Age: 32

Is this former first-round pick now expendable? The Ravens just re-signed Marcus Peters, whom they acquired last season in a trade, and they have a team option for Brandon Carr. They also have a younger cornerback, 2017 first-round pick, Marlon Humphrey in the fold.

Bradley Roby

Houston cornerback Bradley Roby (21) celebrates after returning an interception for a touchdown during the first half of a December game in Tampa. AP

9. Bradley Roby, Houston

PFF rating: 66.8

2019 cap hit: $9.9 million

Age: 28

The former first-round pick of Denver from Ohio State played 10 games in 2019 for the Texans, who signed him on a one-year deal. He battled a hamstring injury and missed the final game of the regular season before starting two playoff games. Roby had two interceptions, eight pass breakups and 38 tackles. He added two breakups and seven tackles in Houston’s wild-card win vs. Buffalo.

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, December 1, 2019

Jarvis Landry has a pass batted away by Pittsburgh's Mike Hilton in the second half of a Dec. 1 game at Heinz Field. (John Kuntz, cleveland.com)cleveland.com

8. Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh (restricted)

PFF rating: 68.0

2019 cap hit: $645,000

Age: 26

Hilton has been a spot starter and a nickel back for three years in Pittsburgh, which has little cap room and considerable free agents with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and pass rusher Bud Dupree. Hilton has slightly more leverage this offseason, writes Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Tyreek Hill

Kansas City's wide receiver Tyreek Hill scores on a reception in front of Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. in December. AP

7. Chris Harris Jr., Denver

PFF rating: 69.9

2019 cap hit: $11.9 million

Age: 31

Harris moved to the outside after earning a strong reputation as a slot cornerback. As a result, his production took a hit. Quarterbacks enjoyed a 109.4 passer rating against him, according to PFF, the worst of Harris’ career. Receivers caught 47 of the 68 passes thrown his way for 672 yards. Harris gave up three touchdowns with an interception.

Kevin Johnson

Buffalo's Kevin Johnson (29) defends Jets receiver Robby Anderson (11) during the first half of a game in December. AP

6. Kevin Johnson, Buffalo

PFF rating: 71.9

2019 cap hit: $3 million

Age: 28

Houston drafted Johnson in the first round in 2015. He signed with Buffalo last March after playing just one game for the Texans in 2018. Johnson bounced back in 2019, starting the regular-season finale and a wild-card matchup against his former team. In those two games, he was targeted nine times and gave up seven receptions for 67 yards, according to PFF. He was on the field for 402 snaps, didn’t allow a touchdown but had no interceptions on 40 targets with three penalties.

Darqueze Dennard

Cincinnati's Darqueze Dennard met some of the expectations that came when he was draft six years ago out of Michigan State. AP

5. Darqueze Dennard, Cincinnati

PFF rating: 72.2

2019 cap hit: $4.3 million

Age: 28

Dennard returned to Cincinnati last year on a one-year deal and gave up 18 receptions for 174 yards and a touchdown on 33 targets, according to PFF. The Bengals took him with the 24th pick of the 2014 draft. He played nine games and started five, mostly toward the end of the season.

Tramaine Brock

Tennessee's Tramaine Brock Sr. plays against Houston last December. AP

4. Tramaine Brock, Tennessee

PFF rating: 74.4

2019 cap hit: $260,296

Age: 32

The Titans picked up Brock off waivers in early December from Arizona. He started their last five regular-season games and continued into the playoffs. His improvement after changing teams was considerable, as PFF gave him a 66.3 grade in 10 games with Arizona and a 78.5 grade with the Titans.

2020 NFL Playoffs: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco running back Raheem Mostert scores a touchdown as Green Bay cornerback Tramon Williams is too late on the play during the NFC title game on Jan. 19. AP

3. Tramon Williams, Green Bay

PFF rating: 75.1

2019 cap hit: $6.3 million

Age: 37

Williams is coming off his 13th season, and there will be younger and more sought-after cornerbacks with lower ratings from Pro Football Focus. That includes Baltimore’s Jimmy Smith (65.6) and Chris Harris Jr. (69.9) of Denver. Williams spent two years with the Browns and a season in Arizona before returning to the Packers in 2018.

Byron Jones

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones (31) breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo receiver Robert Foster in a November game. AP

2. Byron Jones, Dallas

PFF rating: 76.1

2019 cap hit: $6.2 million

Age: 27

The Cowboys took Jones late in the first round of the 2015 draft. His rookie deal is up in an offseason that could make Dallas the team to watch with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Amari Cooper among the Cowboys’ two dozen players looking for new contracts. Jones missed Dallas’ Week 17 win with an ankle injury and could have played his last game with the Cowboys.

Jets beat Raiders

New York Jets' Brian Poole breaks a tackle by the Raiders' Hunter Renfrow (13) to score after an interception in November. AP

1. Brian Poole, New York Jets

PFF rating: 79.0

2019 cap hit: $3.5 million

Age: 27

One of the bright spots for the Jets is the potential of their secondary, led by 2017 first-round pick Jamal Adams at safety. They sort of fell into Poole last year with a one-year signing in March. That made him the 57th-highest paid cornerback, according to Spotrac, in 2019.


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