The Cleveland Browns came into this season with their defensive backfield in really good shape. The cornerback and safety room has always been a pet project of Browns GM Andrew Berry since he is a former college defensive back himself. Every year in the NFL draft, he has taken either a safety or a corner, until this year, when he didn’t select either.
Which meant he was satisfied with where the cornerback and safety rooms were going into training camp.
But you know the Browns. There is always some sort of upheaval that rears its ugly head. Usually, it is either the quarterback or the offensive line that struggles to maintain healthy bodies. Suddenly, it was cornerback, and the season hadn’t even begun yet.
After last year, regarding safeties, Juan Thornhill was shown the door with a year left on his contract, while seasoned veteran Rodney McLeod retired. D’Anthony Bell was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in free agency. Undrafted rookie free agent Donovan McMillon from Pitt was signed after the draft.
With the cornerback group, Mike Ford signed with the Atlanta Falcons, while after the NFL draft, Berry signed some undrafted rookie free agents such as Dom Jones of Colorado State and TCU’s Lamareon James.
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Then slot cornerback Anthony Kendall of Baldwin-Wallace was injured and subsequently waived with an injury designation. Next, starting corner, M.J. Emerson tore his Achilles and was ruled out for the season.
BEREA, OHIO - JULY 29: Martin Emerson Jr. #1 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after being injured during Cleveland Browns training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 29, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
BEREA, OHIO - JULY 29: Martin Emerson Jr. #1 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after being injured during Cleveland Browns training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on July 29, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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The defensive backfield was supposed to feature Denzel Ward on the left, Emerson on the right, and Greg Newsome in the slot position. Now what?
The coaches love Cameron Mitchell and are happy with the development of last year’s rookie Myles Harden, but are either ready for a starting role?
DC Jim Schwartz requires his cornerbacks to cover their receivers in man coverage with little help from the safeties. This frees up the safety to help stop the run as well as coverage of the tight end. But in order to cover in man, the cornerbacks have to have exceptional coverage skills, and be quick enough to stay glued to their pass catcher.
Right now, the depth chart lists Newsome moving from the slot to Emerson’s spot, and Mitchell is now the new nickelback.
Is that the plan? Or perhaps, the Browns need to bring in a seasoned veteran.
CB Mike Hilton of the Miami Dolphins was just waived and won’t be part of their 53-man final roster. Should Berry go after Hilton? Would he solve Cleveland’s problem with the cornerback situation due to Emerson’s injury?
The Hilton plan
Hilton (5’-9”, 184 pounds) went undrafted in 2016 after a fine college career at Ole Miss, where he was given the #38 jersey in his senior year. For that program, the 38 jersey is reserved for a player who embodies the spirit of former Rebels defensive back Chucky Mullins.
Coming out of Ole Miss, Hilton’s 40 time was 4.55 with a vertical leap of 33.5”.
He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was a last cutdown transaction. The New England Patriots then got him for their practice squad, but released him weeks later. Next, the Pittsburgh Steelers nabbed him for their practice squad, where he remained his entire rookie season.
The following year, he beat out two veterans and was named the Steelers’ starting nickelback. His first game experience was against the Browns in an 18–17 season-opening victory. While with Pittsburgh, he appeared in 59 NFL games with 237 tackles, 24 pass defenses, 9.5 sacks, and seven interceptions.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Marvin Mims Jr. #19 of the Denver Broncos catches a touchdown pass against Mike Hilton #21 and Geno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Marvin Mims Jr. #19 of the Denver Broncos catches a touchdown pass against Mike Hilton #21 and Geno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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He then inked a four-year deal worth $24 million with division rival Cincinnati Bengals for the 2021 season and was named the starting nickelback.
Hilton played in 64 NFL games with the Bengals during his four-year stretch with 283 tackles, six picks, two sacks, and 24 pass defenses, among other stats.
Cincinnati decided to allow Hilton to test free agency, so once again he was available. On a list compiled by Pro Football Focus of this past off-season’s best free agents, they ranked Hilton #33.
Their assessment was:
“One of the best slot defenders in the NFL of the past decade, Hilton, like most of the Bengals‘ defense, struggled in 2024, but he turned in four straight strong performances to close the campaign. He turns 31 right as free agency opens in 2025, but with PFF coverage grades above 70.0 in six of the past eight seasons, he should still receive plenty of interest.”
Hilton had a coverage grade of 85.5 and a forced incompletion rate of 6.6%. The Dolphins then inked him to a one-year $1.4 million contract, but he wasn’t signed until July 28. This meant he lingered in free agency availability for over four months and has never sniffed a Pro Bowl roster.
As the Dolphins began to trim their roster from 90 players down to 53 this week, a surprising move was the Hilton release. With Miami this year, they are confident that rookie Jason Marshall out of Florida can handle the slot position, which made Hilton expendable.
Hilton was a player who was expected to start for the Dolphins. On the first unofficial depth chart for 2025, he was listed as the starter as the most experienced cornerback on Miami’s defensive backfield.
Should the Browns go after Hilton?
Already before the cut deadline on Tuesday, Cleveland has released cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, Tony Brown, Christian Holmes, Keenan Isaac, and Darius Rush, plus S/CB Nik Needham.
Some thoughts here: There’s a reason the Bengals didn’t re-sign Hilton, and there’s a reason he was released from the Dolphins. Despite being 31 years old, his experience could be better than what this Browns defense currently has.
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