Should the Browns pursue veteran CB Marcus Peters?
Veteran cornerback Marcus Peters is now available after the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly waived him Monday, according to the Athletic’s Vic Tafur.
Peters, 30, first heads to waivers where a team can claim him. If he clears waivers, Peters will hit the open market where he’s free to sign with any club.
The veteran played in all 12 games for the Raiders this season before interim head coach Antonio Pierce benched him in the second half of Las Vegas’ 31-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Peters tallied 43 combined tackles, one tackle for a loss, five defended passes and one interception in 732 defensive snaps this season. He previously played for the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Browns don’t necessarily need a player like Peters for their defense, but any potential for positional depth would be welcomed considering the waves of injuries Cleveland has endured this season. Cornerback Denzel Ward missed Week 12 with a shoulder injury and Greg Newsome II has missed time as well, though he’s suited up and started the past two games.
Here are the pros and cons of bringing in Peters.
Pros: Tenacious veteran
Peters has been a ballhawk at times in his career. He has 33 career interceptions and returned seven of them for touchdowns. Peters has also never averaged more than 9.4 yards per target in any season throughout his career.
His role on the Browns would be minimal as well. He wouldn’t supplant Ward, Newsome or Martin Emerson Jr. if all three are healthy. But his presence could provide some insurance in case of injury.
Con: Recent dip in production and effectiveness
Peters hasn’t been an effective starter for the Raiders this season. He ranks eighth in competition percentage allowed, fourth in yards per target allowed, second in missed tackle percentage and first in missed tackles among cornerbacks with at least 50 targets this season. Those are not starter-quality stats.
Part of this could be due to wear-and-tear as well as defensive scheme. Part could be on the torn ACL he suffered before the 2021 season. Either way, Peters isn’t the same shutdown corner he was earlier in his career despite his experience.
Pro: Another defensive weapon for Jim Schwartz
Seemingly every defensive player for the Browns has looked better under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, and there’s no reason why Peters wouldn’t if added to the team. Schwartz has worked with Pro Bowlers in the past as well and would certainly be able to find ways to weaponize Peters’ skillset, even if in a limited role.
Con: Locker room issues
There could have been more reasons than productivity for Peters’ release. He reportedly had a “spirited conversation” with Pierce on Sunday and was seen standing alone after Pierce benched him against the Chiefs. It’s unclear exactly what went down or why he Peters didn’t play again, but that frustration could spill over depending on his role on his next team.
Verdict: Take a flier on Peters if he clears waivers
Age, durability and production concerns are there for Peters, but the Browns can afford to take the risk if the cost to sign him his minimal. Cleveland shouldn’t go out of its way to claim Peters on waivers, though. Peters would have to be open to a reduced role as well if he agreed to join the Browns and would likely only see starter-level snaps if Ward continued to miss time.
