The Opening Drive 6/16: The Browns Have a Cornerback Depth Problem & Fowler's Report On QB Competition

Today we examine the room with the least depth on Browns roster and dig into Jeremy Fowler's comments about the quarterbacks heading into training camp.

Jun 16, 2026

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The Cleveland Browns have done a lot to reshape their roster this offseason, but one area that appears rather thin on the depth chart is cornerback depth.

The starters are not the issue.

Denzel Ward remains one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks when healthy, and the addition of Tyson Campbell gives Cleveland a talented running mate on the outside. Myles Harden played better than expected last season and is likely positioned to take on the role in the slot again this season. He has flashed enough development to create some optimism about his future.

The concern begins after those three.

The Browns have several players competing for reserve roles, but there is a noticeable lack of proven depth behind the starters. Myles Bryant brings experience and versatility, and he is likely the Browns’ first corner off the bench as long as he can’t overtake Harden in a battle for the nickel role. Beyond him, Cleveland is relying on a collection of young and largely unproven players to round out the room.

That becomes a concern when considering the realities of an NFL season.

Cornerback is one of the positions where depth gets tested every year. Injuries are inevitable, and teams rarely make it through a full season with their top three corners available every week. If either Ward or Campbell were forced to miss significant time, the Browns would immediately be asking players with limited NFL experience to step into meaningful defensive roles.

That is not a criticism of the young players currently on the roster. Developmental corners often emerge during camp and throughout the season. The issue is that Cleveland is placing a significant amount of faith in projection rather than proven production. After Bryant, there is virtually no NFL experience on the roster at the position. Dom Jones got in a few games last season as UDFA for the Browns, and D’Angelo Ross has played 292 defensive snaps in his career, including 41 for the Browns last season, but he is 5’9 and was often on the receiving end of Denzel Boston highlights in OTAs and minicamp. Tre Avery played 559 defensive snaps in his first two seasons as a UDFA in Tennessee and played 42 for the Browns last season. Michael Coats Jr. and Nate Evans are the Browns’ UDFA signings this season at the position, and Tyron Herring was a UDFA and practice squad player in Green Bay and New England last season.

The Browns have not invested much at the cornerback room over the last several years, and the depth behind their starting trio at cornerback remains one of the thinner spots on the roster. For a defense expected to play plenty of man coverage and match up against some of the AFC’s elite passing attacks, having reliable cornerback depth could be critical.

Even though the cornerback depth feels like one of the most inexperienced and unproven positions on the roster, it’s unlikely Andrew Berry addresses the position with a serious solution before week one. Every summer, capable veterans become available as teams trim rosters, and the Browns should be paying close attention to that market.

The Browns have enough talent at the top of the cornerback room to compete with anyone. The question is whether they have enough behind those starters to withstand the inevitable injuries and attrition that come with a 17-game season.

As training camp approaches, cornerback depth remains one of the biggest unanswered questions on an otherwise talented defensive roster.

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Fowler Provides Update On Browns QB Competition

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