NFL free agency update: Browns sign T.J. Carrie
The Cleveland Browns have quietly focused on revamping key areas of their secondary in free agency. Their latest addition, C.J. Carrie, continues the trend.
The Cleveland Browns have been quite active in the early days of free agency, activity that has continued well into Wednesday. The Browns added former Oakland Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Pain Dealer:
#Browns intend to sign free agent CB TJ Carrie (Oakland), league source says
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) March 14, 2018
As ESPN’s Pat McManamon points out, Carrie is the second cornerback the Browns have added thus far; he joins Terrance Mitchell as the latest new member of the secondary. The Browns have also signed former Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall, though he’s likely to shift to safety.
A 2014 seventh-round draft pick of the Raiders, Carrie has appeared in 60 games, which include 36 starts, 15 of which came in 2017. On his career, he’s totaled three interceptions, 30 passes defensed and 202 tackles. He’s also a kick and punt returner. In Oakland, he returned 15 of the former for 362 yards and 52 of the latter, for 387 yards.
Contract details
According to NFL insider Adam Caplan, Carrie’s deal spans four years and is worth a total of $31 million, with $10 million guaranteed.
National reaction
T.J. Carrie primarily played nickel CB in Oakland with mediocre results in coverage. Nothing special, but he adds experience and depth - which Browns desperately needed. I assume he'll be No. 2 on the nickel CB depth chart behind Boddy-Calhoun https://t.co/sH8wHyqxme
— Ryan McCrystal (@Ryan_McCrystal) March 14, 2018
T.J. Carrie is another nice signing by the Browns
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) March 14, 2018
Next: 2018 NFL Free Agent Tracker
Grade
The Browns already have two starting cornerbacks in Brien Boddy-Calhoun and Jason McCourty and that isn’t expected to change with either Carrie’s signing or Mitchell’s. Where Carrie is most valuable is defending the slot, which spells trouble for Jamar Taylor, who has a $5.275 million cap hit this year but costs only $1.5 million to release.
With Carrie averaging $7.75 million on this new deal, the Browns clearly have plans for him to hit the field in 2018. That he can also work as a returner on special teams adds upside that Taylor cannot boast. Carrie may not be a splashy player, but he is solid, which is certainly something the Browns—who ranked 19th in passing yards allowed and 31st in interceptions, with seven—need.
Grade: B