Cleveland Browns: Top 10 remaining NFL free agents and if they fit
By Chad Porto
No. 10 – Dre Kirkpatrick (CB)
The former Cinncinatti Bengal cornerback is still unsigned heading into August. The former first-round pick spent eight seasons in Cinncinati where he never truly lived up to the expectations as a top-20 NFL draft pick. Not being a regular starter until his fourth season with the Bengals, Kirkpatrick started to perform well under then-head coach Marvin Lewis but never made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team.
Kirkpatrick, an Alabama alum, won two National Championships with the Crimson Tide but never found the same success in the NFL as he did in college. The cornerback was considered elite in college but his skills never transferred to the next level with the Bengals..
The Browns are in a position of need with the cornerback spot but the question has to be asked if Kirkpatrick is better than what the Browns have? That’s a tricky question because the answer is both yes and no. Yes, Kirkpatrick as a nickel or dime corner is absolutely an upgrade over some of the names on the roster but to bring him in for that position, you’d argue that no more than a year or two deal should be offered with, at best, $4 million in total cash going to the NFL veteran. Is that enough to sway him to come in and bolster the 3rd-down defense? Probably not.
As for if he’s good enough to start? It’d be safe to say no. He’s been injury-prone most of his career and his late addition to the starting lineup as a former first-round pick shows that he has trouble adapting. While incumbent starter Greedy Williams was far from consistent, it’s still best to ride with the younger, healthier option than it is to take a risk on an aging, injured pro.
Does He Fit?
Yes, but only as a nickel/dime player on a cheap deal, with minimal years