Browns trade Troy Hill to Rams

    The Cleveland Browns would use their first draft pick in the third round on a cornerback in Martin Emerson from Mississippi State and the thoughts of many were of a new rule of thumb in today's NFL- One can never have too many cornerbacks.

The Browns had another plan in mind as on the draft's final day, Cleveland traded veteran slot cornerback Troy Hill to the team that they had signed him before the 2021 season in the Los Angeles Rams.

Hill was signed to a two-year contract and played last season as the team's slot corner finishing the season with two sacks (both in the same game against Cincinnati) and thirty-four solo tackles but with the trade of Hill, the drafting of Emerson makes more sense.

With the much younger and cheaper Emerson starting at the slot, the Browns could save a few dollars (Hill will make 1.5 million in 2022) and that could come in handy currently as the team still has Baker Mayfield and his almost nineteen million dollars on their cap until someone decides to help Cleveland by taking even some of his salary off the Browns ledger.

The key will be the ability of Emerson to adjust to the slot after spending his entire college career at Mississippi State on the outside corner position.

Cleveland received a 2023 fifth-round pick in return for Hill and earlier in the draft's final day, traded one of the fourth-rounders acquired from Houston to Minnesota for the Vikings fifth-round pick and a fourth rounder next season.

The trade put Cleveland back into the fifth round and gave the team two picks in next year's draft, where the Browns have traded their first and third-round picks to Houston for DeShaun Watson.

Cleveland will now have the Vikings fourth and Rams fifth in addition to their own picks in that round.

I will be working on brief reviews of the Browns day three picks tonight and tomorrow.   

Browns sign Troy Hill, retain Hollywood Higgins

   The Cleveland Browns continued to attempt to shore up a defense in need of repairs and with the signing of Troy Hill to a four-year contract valued at twenty-four million dollars. to man the slot corner on day three of free agency, the Browns may have delivered their secondary a sizable upgrade.

Hill will replace Kevin Johnson at the slot corner and after Hill's excellent season with Los Angeles last season that is a definite upgrade.

Hill was thrown at often last season with Jalen Ramsey manning a corner for the Rams, and Hill rated highly by Pro Football Focus (that means more to some than others) against a high number of attempts tossed his way.

Hill entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Oregon in 2015, signed with the Bengals, and spent time with Cincinnati and New England that season before being claimed off waivers by the then-St. Louis Rams to finish the season.

Hill has been with the Rams ever since, has started for much of the previous three seasons and will join Los Angeles teammate John Johnson in the Cleveland secondary as free agent acquisitions for the 2021 campaign.

The 30-year-old intercepted three passes last season and returned two of those for touchdowns with his 119 yards in returns leading the league in that category.

Brad Ward from the All Eyes On Cleveland has been wishing for the Browns to land Hill for this season during his free agency preview and I think he's on the money here.

Kevin Johnson wasn't terrible in his one season in Cleveland, but it seems that Hill will make the secondary stronger for 2021.

The Browns have addressed their secondary needs and in their remaining shopping may focus on the linebackers, perhaps another end rusher to hedge their bets on the signing of Takk McKinley, and maybe an interior defensive lineman to add to the rotation to replace Larry Ogunjobi, who departed in free agency and signed with division rival Cincinnati.

Cleveland signed a former Brown for offensive line depth in Greg Senat.

The 6'6 305 pound Senat was on the Browns practice squad last season but was signed off by Dallas to play the remainder of the season.

Senat originally was drafted in the sixth round in the 2018 draft from Wagner.

Senat will be in the mix to replace Kendall Lamm as the third tackle this season after Lamm signed with Tennessee as a free agent.

However, the signing that made most Browns fans happy was the re-signing of Rashard "Hollywood" Higgins to a
one year contract to return as the third wide receiver.

Higgins will be paid 2.38 million by the Browns and will return to his role as Baker Mayfield's most trusted pass-catcher.

Higgins caught 37 passes in 2020 for 599 yards and four touchdowns, but his numbers were very good after replacing Odell Beckham in the lineup after Beckham injured his knee.

Higgins should return to the third spot, assuming Odell Beckham is ready to start the season and gives the Browns their top five returning receivers, if Khadarel Hodge returns.

Hodge was given the lowest free agent tender level, so should Hodge sign elsewhere as a restricted free agent, the Browns would be given the right to match any offer but would be given no compensation from the signing team.

The Higgins return not only retains a popular fan favorite that enjoys playing in Cleveland but is the one receiver that seems to have natural chemistry with Baker Mayfield, which can never be understated when running an offense.

Cleveland is still expected to select a receiver at some point in the draft, but the need isn't quite as large with keeping Higgins.

Back later this evening with the boxing challenge for the weekend.