Browns: 10 Greatest undrafted free agents since 1999
By Chad Porto
CB Leigh Bodden (2003)
Leigh Bodden entered the league in 2003, coming out of Duquesne and becoming one of the biggest names out of the college to make the NFL. Bodden came in at a time that the cornerback situation was in flux, with Daylon McCutcheon winding down his playing career and Anthony Henry leaving to go to Dallas in free agency.
Bodden was a needed piece to the Browns during that time period. While he was never a genuine number one and was often beat by the league’s best receivers, what he was able to do was good enough at times.
He was a key component on the 2007 Browns team that went 10-6, and defensively, few people were as important as him. Granted, the defense was 30th in the league in yards given up, and 29th in the league in fewest passing touchdowns given up by a defense, but imagine how much worse it would’ve been without Bodden.
He gave back to the Browns in way of a trade with the Lions, who sent back Shaun “Big Baby” Rogers in exchange for Bodden. Rogers would go on to the Pro Bowl for the Browns, while Bodden would then move to the Patriots after just one season in Detroit.
Bodden’s second-biggest claim to fame besides the Rogers-trade was being part of the 0-16 Lions squad in his one season in Detroit.