We finish off our Cleveland Browns cornerback preview for training camp in part 3, where we look at Eric Patterson, Tracy Howard, and Mikell Everette on the back end of the depth chart.
9. ERIC PATTERSON - THIRD-STRING CORNERBACK
Eric Patterson (#48)Height: 5-9 | Weight: 200
Age: 22 | Experience: 2 years
College: Ball State
Note: Signed with the Browns in May after a tryout at rookie minicamp ... Bounced around three different rosters as rookie in 2015.
During rookie minicamp in May, the Browns tried out 14 players, 2 of whom were not rookies. The only tryout player they signed was Eric Patterson, now in his second year.
Patterson originally signed with the New England Patriots in 2015, but was released before the start of training camp. He later spent training camp with the Indianapolis Colts and played in two games for them, registering two tackles. He was later waived and spent time on the St. Louis Rams' practice squad before getting a late-season call-up to make another tackle.
Patterson was released by the Rams on May 4, with his Browns tryout coming about a week later. He's shown enough to warrant more than just a look by several teams, but now in his second year, will he do enough to stick with a club?
Final Roster Odds: <5%
10. TRACY HOWARD - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT CORNERBACK
Tracy Howard (#41)Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Age: 22 | Experience: Rookie
College: Miami
Note: Undrafted free agent signed after the draft ... Our Miami affiliate calls him talented but underwhelming in terms of actual productivity.
Tracy Howard was an undrafted free agent cornerback signed by the Browns after this year's draft. Our Miami affiliate did a scouting report on him. His strengths included "good balls skills, above average athleticism, solid tackler, consistent cover ability, and very rarely getting beat bad." His weaknesses included "face guarding too much, getting flagged too much, his smaller stature makes him struggle against bigger receivers, and needs to be more physical."
They projected him to go undrafted:
Howard will enter the league much like current Packers and former Miami player Sam Shields did; talented but underwhelming (and likely undrafted). Can he do like Shields did and work his way into a top cover corner? Time will tell. He definitely needs lots of coaching, but when you watch him in pregame drills and sometimes even in games, his talent looks the part of an NFL player. A team somewhere will take a chance on Tracy, maybe even on the final day of the Draft. It would not surprise me one bit if he managed to stick on a roster. But because of his lack on production and some flaws to his game, he'll have to do it the hard way.
Final Roster Odds: <5%
11. MIKELL EVERETTE - UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT CORNERBACK
Mikell Everette (#49)Height: 5-10 | Weight: 185
Age: 23 | Experience: Rookie
College: Sam Houston State
Note: Seriously could find nothing on this guy ... Not sure he actually exists.
Mikell Everette was an undrafted free agent cornerback signed by the Browns after this year's draft. I wish I could give a scouting report on him, but out of all the players I've previewed for this year's training camp, I can't find anything on the guy. Therefore, I'll have to defer to his Browns.com biography:
Appeared in 30 games at Sam Houston State, totaling 135 career tackles, 24 passes defensed, and seven INTs returned for 111 yards in two seasons…Transferred to Sam Houston State in 2014 after playing at Pima Community College as a freshman. First name is pronounced muh-KELL…Native of Seattle, Wash… Favorite movie is Get Rich or Die Tryin’…Lists rap as his favorite type of music and Nipsey Hussle as his favorite artist.
Final Roster Odds: <1%
Today's poll asks which of these three players you like the best.