The Cleveland Browns will see a completely different Cam Taylor-Britt for Bengals in 2023

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt took the field on Dec. 11, 2022, as a rookie cornerback who was still trying to prove to himself he could be a lockdown cornerback. In that game last season against the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Deshaun Watson viewed him as the weak spot on the entire Bengals’ defense.

All game, Watson targeted the receiver Taylor-Britt was guarding. Taylor-Britt was only playing his seventh game in the NFL, and he had already given up a handful of big plays with just one pass breakup. In the fourth quarter of that game in Paycor Stadium, Watson tried to pick on the rookie as the Browns attempted to make a comeback.

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Taylor-Britt didn’t just hold his ground. He made three clutch pass breakups down the stretch, including the game-clincher on a fade into the end zone during the fourth quarter. The Bengals won, 23-10, and Taylor-Britt got a game ball from head coach Zac Taylor.

A rookie story comes full circle

“That was one of the big moments of my NFL career,” Taylor-Britt says nine months later as he prepares for a rematch against the Browns in Week 1. “I knew they were coming for me. It was crunch time. I just knew that I had to stay on my cues and be ready. Any time that I was out there, I felt like they were going to come after me. Especially late in the game. I was ready.”

The story of Taylor-Britt’s rookie season can be told through his first two games against Cleveland. He made his first NFL start on Halloween against the Browns and was picked apart in coverage. On one play, Taylor-Britt tried to make a leaping pass breakup. He ended up whiffing on the tackle, allowing an explosive play and getting a message from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to never do that again.

The early portion of Taylor-Britt’s tenure in the starting lineup was all about building up confidence, and he had an up-and-down first half against the Browns in the first half on Dec. 11, 2023. After he made the first set of clutch plays of his career, his mentality changed.

“That confidence was everything,” Taylor-Britt said. “You’re on an island, and you have to hold your own against one of the best receivers in the NFL in Amari Cooper. You got to go out there and win. If you don’t, there goes the ball game.”

Big plays for Cam Taylor-Britt's NFL rookie season

After that game, Bengals cornerbacks coach Charles Burks told Taylor-Britt, “That was the moment. Nobody will expect anything less than that going forward. You have to be that Cam on the field all the time.”

Burks was right with his prediction. The next week, the Bengals defense locked down Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half. Anarumo made a big halftime adjustment for the cornerbacks to play press-man coverage, and Taylor-Britt shut down Buccaneers Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans, including a dynamic pass breakup as the Bengals pulled away in the game.

The next week, Taylor-Britt allowed a game-changing touchdown as the New England Patriots made a comeback.  He made an adjustment late in the game to play “top-down,” which prevented wide receiver Kendrick Bourne from beating him deep again.

Then on the Patriots’ final play of the game, quarterback Mac Jones tried another deep ball against Taylor-Britt. The rookie broke up the pass for another win-clinching play.

“I’m a big fan of Cam’s,” Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader said. “I can’t wait to see him. He’s smart, athletic and everything you’d want from that position.”

Taylor-Britt went on to play his best football in the playoffs. He played a big part in the Bengals holding Bills star receiver Stefon Diggs to 35 receiving yards, and Taylor-Britt made the interception that sealed the win in the fourth quarter.

A "smarter player" awaits the Cleveland Browns

Taylor-Britt’s matchup against the Browns last December was only the start of his rise. He says that Cleveland will see a completely different cornerback on Sunday.

“I’m a smarter player,” Taylor-Britt said. “I’m more mature. I knew the pre-snap communication and the defense as a whole now. I know why we’re running every coverage. There’s a lot that goes into it that I didn’t know last year. I’m a better player overall.”

Taylor-Britt has taken big strides with the consistency of his technique at the line of scrimmage. During training camp, he impressed Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with his physicality, his ability to change directions and his instincts tracking the ball.

Burks said that Taylor-Britt can be a Pro Bowler because of his natural ability to track the ball with patience. During training camp, Taylor-Britt proved that he’s able to track receivers like Chase stride-for-stride down the field and compete with them in the air on contested catches. Taylor-Britt made a leaping interception in the end zone against Chase during training camp, which reminded the Bengals that Taylor-Britt is ready for matchups against the best receivers in the NFL.

He’ll face one of his toughest challenges of the year in Cooper, a four-time Pro Bowler. It’ll be Taylor-Britt’s next opportunity to show why he can be a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL.

“They say that your second year is your hardest year, so I’ve got to work hard all year long,” Taylor-Britt said. “I’ve made a point to be better. I’m constantly working on it.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt 2023 season prognosis