June 3, 2008

Mission accomplished: With two bold moves, the Browns may have fixed their leaky defensive line. Trades for Packers DT Corey Williams and Lions DT Shaun Rogers at the outset of free agency were the Browns’ shot across the bow of their AFC North rivals, who had gotten used to Cleveland struggling to stop the run and get after the quarterback in recent years. The Browns were also able to extend QB Derek Anderson’s contract and give him another speedy receiver, ex-Patriot Donté Stallworth.

Unfinished business: Trading for Rogers cost Cleveland CB Leigh Bodden, an experienced starter. And the trades for Rogers and Williams left the Browns without picks in the first three rounds of the ’08 draft. Nonetheless, it was something of a surprise when the Browns did not bolster their CB depth in the draft, and Cleveland was forced to scramble when potential starter Daven Holly suffered a season-ending knee injury in May. Now the Browns will be relying heavily on 33-year-old CB Terry Cousin — and looking closely at the waiver wire throughout the summer.