Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major NFL signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of the player and his fit with his new team, and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here is a grade for the deal between Brandon Browner and the New Orleans Saints.
Grade articles on every major deal
New Orleans Saints: D+
Rob Ryan must have thought his defense lacked a physical presence last season, because the Saints get the ultimate physical corner in Browner. At 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, Browner has been an enforcer on the outside that has been able to neutralize bigger receivers like no one else in the league can. Much of that is in the past, though, as Browner spent the majority of last year holding on to wide receivers for dear life.
The 30-year-old corner (who will be 31 by the start of next season) drew 15 penalties last season, and added four more in the playoffs to make 19 across only 12 games. That was the highest total in the NFL and Browner only played about 60 percent of the Patriots' total snaps. There isn't a cornerback currently on an NFL roster that is 31 or older -- and that's not a coincidence. Speed is a necessity for the man coverage the Saints love to play and Browner has lost a step from his prime. He doesn't look likely to get back to being a high-level full-time starter.
Penalties aside, his coverage stats were still middle of the road. His 1.26 yards per coverage snap was 38th best among 73 qualifying corners and he had a passer rating against of 89.7. If the Saints deploy him in a matchup-only role against tight ends and larger receivers, Browner can still have value, but anything more than that is asking too much.