Browns: Secondary secured with former Rams corner Troy Hill

The Cleveland Browns may have just secured their secondary for the foreseeable future with the signing of Rams cornerback Troy Hill.

The Browns signed former Rams cornerback Troy Hill on Thursday to a four-year deal worth $24 million. The move comes after Terrance Mitchell left in free agency by signing with the Houston Texans. The move is an upgrade at the position and gives Cleveland an insurance policy in case former 2nd-round pick Greedy Williams remains unable to return to the field.

Not only does Hill make a great addition to the secondary as an upgrade over Mitchell, but it gives Cleveland not just depth but truly reliable depth going forward. At 29-years-old, he isn’t the long-term option that Williams could be, but there’s no harm in carrying both players for the next few years to see how it turns out.

The hope among many is that, be it Williams or Hill, they’ll be able to pair with Denzel Ward and fortify the cornerback position going forward. While not talked about enough, the Browns corners routinely got burned, making the defensive line and safeties have to do more to ensure the defense didn’t crumble.

Another corner in the mid-to-late parts of the draft is exactly what this team needs next.

Hill won’t just be joining the Browns but will be partnering up with his former back-mate on the Rams in John Johnson III. The pair played well together, and in 2020 Johnson and Hill were first and third on the Rams in total tackles. That was a big issue for Cleveland in 2020, not just in the secondary but all over the defense was the lack of quality tackling. That’s part of the reason some think Andrew Sendejo kept his spot all year, as he was arguably the best tackler on the team.

Now with the secondary being revamped, fans can take a deep breath. There is still no word on the future of Ronnie Harrison, as there are some who believe the Browns won’t extend him. Seeing as how the Browns have far more holes to worry about than Harrison, it could be a very real idea that the Browns move on from him if his contract demands exceed what the team believes he’s worth.

Hill is a big get for the Browns, he was 32nd in NBC’s Top NFL Free Agents list and Hill led the league in defensive touchdowns in 2020. A performance that’s hard to repeat, granted but does give you an idea of what Hill can do.