Troy Hill is coming back to Northeast Ohio.
Hill, who led all NFL players with three defensive touchdowns in 2020, signed Monday with the Browns, who are set to add another versatile defensive back to their secondary.
"Troy fits in great," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He was a very productive player out there in Los Angeles. Played inside and outside, he makes plays on the ball, he is part of the front, he is good in coverage, so really looking forward to having him play a big role in this defense."
Hill, who was born in nearby Youngstown, spent the past five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He steadily took on more and more responsibility and was utilized as an every-game starter in 2020, the most productive season of his NFL career. Hill, playing primarily in the slot, started all 16 games, registered a career-high 77 tackles and intercepted three passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Hill also recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving him an NFL-best three defensive scores.
Hill will reunite with his former teammate in Los Angeles, S John Johnson III, who signed with the Browns last week. They were two of the top players in a Rams defense that finished 2020 ranked No. 1 in total defense and No. 1 in pass defense.
Hill is the fourth major addition the Browns have made to their defense via free agency, joining Johnson, DE Takkarist McKinley and LB Anthony Walker.
Hill will join a Browns group of cornerbacks that is set to have a handful of new faces in key spots. Pro Bowler Denzel Ward and former second-round pick Greedy Williams are set to return, but two regular starters from last season — Terrance Mitchell and Kevin Johnson — are unrestricted free agents. The Browns are looking to improve in all areas, and that certainly includes pass defense, where the team finished 22nd in the league in 2020.
Hill played at the University of Oregon and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He appeared in three games with the Cincinnati Bengals as a rookie before joining the Rams as a waiver claim late in the season.
For his career, Hill has appeared in 73 games with 39 starts. He has 218 tackles and seven interceptions.
Check out photos of cornerback Troy Hill
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22), and wide receiver Robert Woods (17) walk out to the field prior to an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (32) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Lucas Stevenson via AP)
Oregon defensive back Troy Hill runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an interception during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) sprints with the ball after intercepting a pass during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) sprints with the ball for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Adam Humphries (11) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Troy Hill (28) after making a catch during the second half of a preseason NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Monday, Aug. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) reacts during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) during an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) hits the ball out-of-bounds after San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44) makes a catch during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown after a fumble recovery with outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Nov. 29, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (22) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday Dec. 10, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill, right, has "It Takes All of Us" displayed on his helmet during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill, left, works against defensive back Marqui Christian during an NFL football training camp in Irvine, Calif., Tuesday, July 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (32) lines up in position during an NFL football game against the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 in London. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Troy Hill (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at Wembley Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
