The Cleveland Browns picked 10 new players in last month’s NFL draft, and while most knew that the focus for the Browns would be on repairing the offense, it was still somewhat jarring to see just how many of the picks went to the woebegone offensive unit, which ranked as the worst in the NFL last season. In all, eight of the 10 picks, including both first-round picks plus the Browns’ first second-round pick, went toward the offense.
The only two defensive players selected were second-round safety Eugene McNeil-Warren and fifth-round linebacker Justin Jefferson.
But the Browns do have needs on the defensive side of the ball, and depth in the secondary has been a concern–not quite the concern that the offensive line or the receiver room was, but a concern nonetheless. Perhaps as a wildcard bid to ease that concern, the Browns announced on Saturday that they have signed Michael Coats, the West Virginia cornerback who had gone undrafted.
Michael Coats Spent Time at JuCo
Coats spent three years at junior college before moving on to Nevada for two seasons and gaining some notice with a good year with the Mountaineers in 2025. He started all 12 games and had a team-high seven passes broken up last year.
From the team’s announcement on the Coats signing, which reports detailed as having a $115,000 guarantee: “The Cleveland Browns have signed undrafted free agent CB Michael Coats. To make room on the roster, the club waived TE Sal Cannella.”
Canella, for his part, played two games as a 29-year-old rookie last year, and caught two passes for 11 yards.
Browns Getting a Solid Player in Michael Coats
Whether Coats can stick with the Browns will be the next challenge, though. He does have ample experience, and while his age and height–he is 5-foot-9 and 25 years old–probably cost him when it came to being picked in the draft, it could be a benefit for Cleveland as they seek some depth on the back end.
From the scouting report at NFL.com before last month’s draft: “Despite his lack of size, Coats has proven to be an extremely combative cornerback who fights hard for every inch of the workspace. He turns 25 this summer, which could hurt his draft chances, but the tape is solid. He possesses good speed and quick feet. … Coats might not be drafted, but his competitive nature deserves a look by a pro team.”
Browns Need Athleticism in the Secondary
One Browns writer, in fact, had given fans a heads-up on Coats in the wake of the draft–credit to Matthew Wilson of SB Nation, who wrote:
“Michael Coats Jr. is the definition of a menace at the cornerback position. He’s not the most technically sound player, but he’s consistently around the ball, breaking up passes and throwing his body around against the run. Coats Jr. showed off his top-notch athleticism at his pro day, running a 4.39s 40-yard dash, had a 36” vertical, and had a crazy 6.83s 3-cone drill time at 5’9”, 184 lbs.”
Browns Announce Signing of 25-Year-Old ‘Menace’