Nate Clements would be a costly addition to Cleveland's defensive backfield
Former Ohio State and current Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements looks to be one of the lucky winners of this year's NFL free agent spending spree, and the Browns could be the team signing the check.
Clements, a native of Shaker Heights, who could command up to a $20 million signing bonus, is likely to receive plenty of attention from Cleveland. The Browns suffered many injuries in their defensive backfield last season, as Daylon McCutcheon missed the entire season after preseason knee surgery, Gary Baxter missed thirteen games after suffering career-threatening injuries to both knees, and Leigh Bodden missed 7 games with ankle problems. These injuries actually forced versatile safety Brodney Pool to play some cornerback last year, but with the likelihood of safety Brian Russell being resigned slim, Pool looks to take over as a starting safety opposite the talented Sean Jones. Baxter will miss all of 2007 (and may never come back) and McCutcheon has probably played his last game as a Cleveland Brown.
That leaves Bodden and third-year corner Davin Holly as starters, and Jereme Perry, Ralph Brown, and DeMario Minter as options for nickel and dime packages. At times last year, Brown looked like the weakest link on the Browns defense (or any other defense, for that matter), leading to multiple breakdowns, big plays, and touchdowns. If this team is to compete this year, upgrading the quality of their depth at cornerback will be essential.
Bodden is an unheralded, but rising star in the league. Beyond him, though, the cornerback position for the Browns is a question mark. Clements would immediately step in and provide a lock down corner opposite Bodden, and give the Browns more opportunities to blitz safeties and linebackers in passing situations.
Here's the catch... Is it wise for the Browns to spend so much money on a cornerback when they have so many needs, especially along the offensive and defensive lines? Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense struggled horribly against the run last year, and it is tough to see how adding Clements would help them with that problem. After Baxter's injury, Holly played better and better as the season went on. Do the Browns really need a high-priced CB more than two or three mid-range defensive lineman? In my opinion, no.
Many thought that Minter was a steal in the fifth round of last year's draft, but a preseason knee injury kept him off the field all year. It may be unrealistic to expect him to contribute much this year, but I can't imagine he'd be any worse than Ralph Brown. Drafting a CB in the mid rounds this year and signing a mid-level corner for depth seems to make more sense than breaking the bank on Clements.
Given that last year's spending spree concentrated on veterans with broken bodies and big names for big bucks, I'm hoping that the Browns use some discretion this year. Another disappointing free agent extravaganza like last year could make this G.M. Phil Savage's last for the Cleveland Browns.
Former Ohio State and current Buffalo Bills cornerback Nate Clements looks to be one of the lucky winners of this year's NFL free agent spending spree, and the Browns could be the team signing the check.
Clements, a native of Shaker Heights, who could command up to a $20 million signing bonus, is likely to receive plenty of attention from Cleveland. The Browns suffered many injuries in their defensive backfield last season, as Daylon McCutcheon missed the entire season after preseason knee surgery, Gary Baxter missed thirteen games after suffering career-threatening injuries to both knees, and Leigh Bodden missed 7 games with ankle problems. These injuries actually forced versatile safety Brodney Pool to play some cornerback last year, but with the likelihood of safety Brian Russell being resigned slim, Pool looks to take over as a starting safety opposite the talented Sean Jones. Baxter will miss all of 2007 (and may never come back) and McCutcheon has probably played his last game as a Cleveland Brown.
That leaves Bodden and third-year corner Davin Holly as starters, and Jereme Perry, Ralph Brown, and DeMario Minter as options for nickel and dime packages. At times last year, Brown looked like the weakest link on the Browns defense (or any other defense, for that matter), leading to multiple breakdowns, big plays, and touchdowns. If this team is to compete this year, upgrading the quality of their depth at cornerback will be essential.
Bodden is an unheralded, but rising star in the league. Beyond him, though, the cornerback position for the Browns is a question mark. Clements would immediately step in and provide a lock down corner opposite Bodden, and give the Browns more opportunities to blitz safeties and linebackers in passing situations.
Here's the catch... Is it wise for the Browns to spend so much money on a cornerback when they have so many needs, especially along the offensive and defensive lines? Romeo Crennel's 3-4 defense struggled horribly against the run last year, and it is tough to see how adding Clements would help them with that problem. After Baxter's injury, Holly played better and better as the season went on. Do the Browns really need a high-priced CB more than two or three mid-range defensive lineman? In my opinion, no.
Many thought that Minter was a steal in the fifth round of last year's draft, but a preseason knee injury kept him off the field all year. It may be unrealistic to expect him to contribute much this year, but I can't imagine he'd be any worse than Ralph Brown. Drafting a CB in the mid rounds this year and signing a mid-level corner for depth seems to make more sense than breaking the bank on Clements.
Given that last year's spending spree concentrated on veterans with broken bodies and big names for big bucks, I'm hoping that the Browns use some discretion this year. Another disappointing free agent extravaganza like last year could make this G.M. Phil Savage's last for the Cleveland Browns.
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