We're two days away from training camp as we near the end of our position group breakdowns.
Without further ado, let's dive into the cornerbacks.
THE CORNERBACKS
The cast
Joe Haden
Tramon Williams
Jamar Taylor
Justin Gilbert
K'Waun Williams
Pierre Desir
Charles Gaines
Eric Patterson
Trey Caldwell
Tracy Howard
Mikell Everette
What happened at OTAs?Without Joe Haden, who needed ankle surgery in March, we saw plenty of opportunities and competition at cornerback during offseason workouts. Tramon Williams, the veteran who enters his second season with the Browns after winning a Super Bowl in Green Bay, should be poised to defend his starting job and set a standard for younger players to follow. In addition to the likes of Justin GIlbert, Charles Gaines, K'Waun Williams and Pierre Desir, former Dolphins corner Jamar Taylor joined the roster in April along with fifth-round draft pick Trey Caldwell and undrafted free agents Tracy Howard, Mikell Everette and second-year player Eric Patterson.
Under the radar:Jamar Taylor. The former Miami Dolphin and second-round draft pick comes to Cleveland after three years of highs and lows in South Florida. Earlier this summer, Taylor said he was willing to do whatever the Browns need him to while also laying out his aspirations to be a starter. Where Taylor fits on the Cleveland defense will play out during camp, but he seems to have the tools and the frame of mind to compete for a job.
Variables to consider:The big one that sticks out is Joe Haden's comeback. The Pro Bowler missed much of last season because of lingering injuries and underwent ankle surgery in March. The Browns placed Haden on the PUP list Tuesday, but he and the coaching staff have said they expect him to be ready by the season opener. In any case, a healthy Haden will be a welcomed addition to a new-look Cleveland secondary.
Quote to note: "I always approach that every time you go into a situation that everyone starts on the same page. Right now, in the DB room, we have 19 players. That's 19 different personalities. My goal as a coach is to get the very most out of those players and to get them to reach their goals. If I do that, then it's better for everybody. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. It's really an old saying, 'I see better than I hear.' As long as they are doing what I see, we're good to go." — DBs coach Louie Cioffi
How many were kept last year?:Seven on the 53-man roster
