Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz came in and transformed the defense of the Cleveland Browns into the top unit in the NFL in just one season. And a big reason for that is due to the trust he can put into Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., and the rest of the secondary to line up and do their job.
The Browns run more cover-1 than any team in the NFL, and they can do that because Ward and Emerson are not afraid to line up at the line of scrimmage and punch the man across from them in the face. They even have another first round pick in Greg Newsome II patrolling the nickel, giving them a formidable alliance of cornerbacks to put their trust in. This allows for pass rushers to get home as well.
Where does ESPN’s Mike Clay have the Browns’ cornerback room ranked among the rest of the NFL, however? We take a deep look now:
Deonte Banks, Cordale Flott, Nick McCloud, Tre Hawkins III, Andru Phillips
Sean Murphy-Bunting, Max Melton, Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas, Elijah Jones
Benjamin St-Juste, Emmanuel Forbes, Jartavius Martin, Mike Sainristil, Michael Davis
Nate Hobbs, Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett, Brandon Facyson, Decamerion Richardson
A.J. Terrell, Clark Phillips III, Mike Hughes, Antonio Hamilton, Dee Alford
Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Josiah Scott, Darius Rush, Ryan Watts
Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still
Byron Murphy, Shaquill Griffin, Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, Andrew Booth Jr.
Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson, Troy Hill, Dicaprio Bootle, D’Shawn Jamison
Tyson Campbell, Ronald Darby, Antonio Johnson, Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones
Cam Taylor-Britt, D.J. Turner, Mike Hilton, Jalen Davis, Josh Newton
Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Tavierre Thomas, Christian Izien, Bryce Hall
Kenny Moore II, Julius Brents, Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones, Darrell Baker Jr.
Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Joshua Williams, Nic Jones, Ekow Boye-Doe
Derek Stingley Jr., Desmond King, Kamari Lassiter, Myles Bryant, Jeff Okudah
Darious Williams, Tre’Davious White, Quentin Lake, Decobie Durant, Derion Kendrick
Patrick Surtain II, Levi Wallace, Ja’Quan McMillian, Damarri Mathis, Kris Abrams-Draine
Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Shaun Wade
Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Arthur Maulet, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa
Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine
Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Ambry Thomas, Renardo Green, Rock Ya-Sin
Devon Witherspoon, Tariq Woolen, Michael Jackson, Tre Brown, Artie Burns
Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean
Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Daequan Hardy
Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Ugochukwu Amadi
Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, Greg Stroman
Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, Emmanuel Moseley, Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
L’Jarius Sneed, Roger McCreary, Chidobe Awuzie, Tre Avery, Eric Garror
Trevon Diggs, DaRon Bland, Jourdan Lewis, Nahshon Wright, C.J. Goodwin
Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson, Cameron Mitchell, Kahlef Hailassie
Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou, Nik Needham, Cam Smith
Ahmad Gardner, D.J. Reed, Michael Carter II, Isaiah Oliver, Brandin Echols