Pre-draft rumblings had the Browns favoring Boise State’s Kyle Wilson over him, but Mike Holmgren’s club wound up tabbing the draft’s near-consensus top cornerback prospect in Joe Haden of Florida.
A quarterback when he arrived on campus, Haden was briefly moved to slot receiver, where he found himself buried behind Percy Harvin. Haden then successfully executed the switch to defense, becoming a three-year starter and leading the Gators with four interceptions a year ago.
In Cleveland, the 5-foot-11, 193-pound Haden will line up opposite Eric Wright to give the Browns’ one of the most promising young cornerback duos in the league. Recently acquired cornerback Sheldon Brown might move to free safety.