SB Nation rankings guru and all-around good guy Ryan Van Bibber took time over the weekend to compile a list of the top cornerbacks from every NFL team in an attempt to rank them.
While the order is about as subjective as it gets (you can't tell me the Steelers will be the 10th best this year with Taylor a year older and Gay departing, and it is very hard to believe the Cardinals secondary will be upper half unless Patrick Peterson makes tremendous strides in coverage from his rookie season), I'm impressed with the endeavor and applaud Van B for his efforts.
That said, the Browns come in right at the midway point, due mostly to the efforts of Joe Haden.
16. Cleveland Browns
Best Player: Joe Haden
Cleveland has a very good corner in Haden. Dimitri Patterson and Buster Skrine will press Sheldon Brown, 33, for the starting job opposite Haden. Trevin Wade, a seven-round pick this year, and James Dockery, a UDFA last year, can make a case for playing time with a strong camp.
Getting Brown out of a starting role would do nothing but wonders for Cleveland this season. He showed his age time and again a year ago, making completely average corner Patterson look better than he actually is. The best possible scenario for the Browns is seeing Skrine flourish. He has all the physical gifts, but often found himself out of position or going after the homerun play -- something that happens a lot with younger cornerbacks.
Terry Pluto wrote recently that the coaching staff really values what Skrine brings to the team, and it is easy to see why.