NFL Rumors: Brandon Browner Returning To Seattle Seahawks

NFL rumors are swirling around Brandon Browner. After quick stints with the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, he could be returning to the team that rescued him from the Canadian Football League. According to ESPN, Browner could be signing a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran cornerback was once a very productive member of the Legion of Boom. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is hoping that the reunion will resurrect Browner’s career.

Provided he passes his physical, Brandon Browner is reportedly going to be signing a contract with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. Since the two sides want to see if it is a good fit, the belief is that it will be a one-year deal. Last season, Browner was penalized a total of 24 times. That is more than any other player in the NFL. Pass interference calls cost teams a lot of yards. The Seahawks cannot afford that.

Brandon Browner struggled with the New Orleans Saints. Some felt that he struggled to fit in with the defensive scheme. It didn’t help that the Saints changed defensive coordinators during the middle of the season. Rob Ryan was fired in November. Dennis Allen took over and tweaked up the scheme a little bit. Neither guy was able to make good use of Browner. In his defense, Brandon often went up against the other team’s top wide receiver.

Fortunately for Brandon Browner, he will have plenty of help in the secondary. The safety tandem of Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas is one of the best in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks play a defensive scheme that enables the corner back to pass off wide receivers to the safeties. That means that Browner won’t usually have to cover the entire distance of the route. The only bad thing for him is that Richard Sherman prefers to play on one side of the field.

Last season, the Seattle Seahawks had issues with the fourth starting position in the secondary. In March of 2015, the team handed an $18 million contract to Cary Williams. He couldn’t make it through a full season. The team released him and went with unproven players. That’s a tough decision for a team that was in contention for a spot in the NFL Playoffs.

Signing Brandon Browner doesn’t mean that the Seattle Seahawks are done with the secondary. The NFL Draft is taking place at the end of April. Pete Carroll will more than likely spend a pick or two on a defensive back. They’re looking for a longterm solution next to Richard Sherman. The Seahawks might also look for another safety. Kam Chancellor is still not pleased with his contractual situation. He might leave when his contract expires.

The success of the Seattle Seahawks’ defense is predicated on the strength of their secondary. That reliance is even stronger now that Bruce Irvin is gone. The strong side linebacker opted to walk away in free agency because he was not pleased with how Pete Carroll utilized him. Irvin is hoping that the Oakland Raiders feature him more. His absence puts more pressure on Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas to remain among the best players in the NFL.

Brandon Browner isn’t going to be a savior for the Seattle Seahawks. Pete Carroll is smarter than that. He basically brought back Browner because he needed a security blanket. Carroll needed a veteran that was familiar with the NFL and has a good understanding of his defensive scheme. Browner might not be the starter for the entire season, but he at least fits that bill right now.

[Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images]