Schwartz relies on cornerbacks to play a lot of man-to-man coverage and other than Ward, there was not a lock-down cornerback opposite Ward. Cameron Mitchell and Myles Harden have not shown whether they will be starting caliber cornerbacks, as of yet.
Heisman Trophy winner wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter was in consideration for the overall No.. 2 pick to the Browns, but they chose to trade the pick to the Jaguars, who used it to select him.
Nik Needham
Nik Needham (Photo: Getty, Getty)
Veteran Cornerbacks Acquired:
Nik Needham (6-1, 196, 7th year, Texas-El Paso) -- Needham, 28, has 200 tackles, 25 passes broken up and six interceptions with the Dolphins. Needham was signed as a free agent for $1.030 million.
Tony Brown (6-0, 200, 8th year, Alabama) -- Brown, 29, was re-signed after spending the 2024 season with the Browns, primarily as a special teams player. Brown had five special teams tackles and a forced fumble. Browns was ree-signed as a free agent for $1.089 million.
Rookie Cornerbacks Acquired:
LaMareon James (5-10, 193, Rookie, Texas Christian) -- James, 24, was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent. He spent time at Old Dominion (2021-23) before transferring to TCU (2024) for his final season. He started all 13 games for the Horned Frogs in 2024 and led the Big 12 while tying for second nationally with 14 pass breakups, adding 35 tackles and one interception. In three seasons at Old Dominion, appeared in 38 games and recorded 86 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumbles returned and 10 pass breakups. Honorable-Mention All-Sun Belt Conference in 2023. James was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent for $846,666.
Dom Jones (6-2, 192, Rookie, Colorado State) -- Jones, 24, was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent. He spent time at North Dakota State (2019-22) before transferring to Colorado State (2023-24). He appeared in 25 games at Colorado State, recording 93 tackles, four interceptions and 15 passes defensed. In four seasons at North Dakota State, played in 41 games with nine starts and posted 83 career tackles with three interceptions. Jones was Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West in 2024. Jones was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent for $843,333.