Potential Browns Free Agent Targets: Slot Cornerback
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The Cleveland Browns elected to draft Martin Emerson Jr. in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and then traded their only true slot cornerback, Troy Hill, back to the Los Angeles Rams after just one season in Cleveland. It was a curious move, as the Browns had no one on the roster that had played in the slot. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods was going to change some things up and move Greg Newsome II inside and develop him as the team's nickel cornerback. Newsome is a former first-round pick and had a terrific rookie season as one of the Browns outside cornerbacks. To further confuse the situation, the Browns elected not to keep any other corners on their roster that had experience playing in the slot. Newsome accepted the challenge and has performed admirably, but he is a better fit on the outside.
With Woods' job in question at the end of the season, the Browns will hopefully have a new defensive coordinator with a new philosophy taking over in 2023. The hope is that general manager Andrew Berry will get the newly hired defensive coordinator a true slot cornerback to cover that role and provide some depth at the position. The Browns have three excellent cornerbacks, all of whom are at their best on the outside. To get all of them on the field simultaneously, Newsome may have to play in the slot some, but either way, they need to have another corner with experience as a nickel cornerback.
