http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2018/03/browns_sign_cb_ej_gaines_reuni.html Browns sign CB E.J. Gaines, reunited with Gregg Williams Updated 11:55 AM; Posted Mar 23, 1:43 PM By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns continued to overhaul their defensive backfield Friday by signing former Bills cornerback E.J. Gaines to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $4 million, with another $1 million in incentives. Gaines, 26, will be reunited with Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who coached him from 2014-2016 with the Rams, both in St. Louis and Los Angeles. Gaines was in Cleveland Friday for a free agent visit and he saw the Jets on Thursday. He also visited the Cardinals. A sixth round pick of the Rams in 2014 out Missouri, Gaines joins a secondary that includes newly-signed free agents Damarious Randall, a free safety, and T.J. Carrie, a cornerback. Jabrill Peppers is the projected strong safety and Jamar Taylor is still at cornerback. They traded 2017 starting cornerback Jason McCourty to the Patriots. The Browns' investment in the secondary this offseason means they might be looking elsewhere besides Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick at No. 4 overall. Other top candidates are North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb and Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. Gaines (5-10, 190) will compete for a starting job in the Browns' revamped defensive backfield. He started 15 games for Williams in 2014 and 10 in 2016. He sat out the 2015 season with a Lisfranc foot injury. Gaines was traded to the Bills in August in exchange for Sammy Watkins, and had a good season in Buffalo, where he recorded 59 tackles, three forced fumbles, nine passes defensed and one interception in 11 starts. The Browns have also expressed some interest in former Redskins outside linebacker Junior Galette, but have yet to set up a visit. Gaines is the eighth free agent signed by the Browns since the league year opened March 14th. The others are offensive lineman Donald Stephenson and Chris Hubbard, Carrie, defensive end Chris Smith, running back Carlos Hyde, and tight end Darren Fells.
