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 defensive ends and outside linebackers
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Like what you’re reading? You want more? Subscribe to Football Insider for exclusive Browns content, including daily texts from Mary Kay Cabot and cleveland.com’s entire coverage team. Register quickly below using your phone number.