E.J. Gaines Signs Contract with Browns; Previously Played for Bills, Rams

The Cleveland Browns announced Friday that they signed cornerback E.J. Gaines.

The Buffalo Bills acquired Gaines from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the start of the 2017 season. Buffalo needed another starting cornerback after Stephon Gilmore signed with the New England Patriots, so the team packaged Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth-round pick for Gaines and a 2018 second-rounder.

The deal worked out pretty well for the Bills. Watkins didn't show a ton of improvement in his new surroundings, while Gaines partnered with Tre'Davious White to help Buffalo rank 12th in defensive efficiency against the pass, per Football Outsiders. The team was 21st in that category in 2016.

Gaines did, however, experience a few bumps in the road. He missed five games with a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old has yet to play a full season since the St. Louis Rams selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.

Gaines' numbers from 2017 don't jump off the page, either. He had 59 combined tackles, nine passes defended and one interception with the Bills.

Still, ESPN's Field Yates argued in December that Gaines was in line for a lucrative contract this offseason, citing both his success in Buffalo and the general importance of the cornerback position. The latter can inflate a player's value on the open market.

The Bills were all too aware of that fact when they watched the Patriots give $40 million guaranteed to Gilmore. Even with other proven cornerbacks hitting free agency, such as Malcolm Butler, Johnathan Joseph and Trumaine Johnson, Gaines was in line to name his price for potential suitors.

Now, the Bills are facing a second straight offseason in which they've lost a starting cornerback.

Having White will help soften the blow. The 23-year-old far exceeded expectations after the Bills selected him 27th overall in the 2017 draft. Pro Football Focus named him the Rookie of the Year.

White has the potential to be an elite cornerback—if he isn't there already.

And Buffalo's future is bright in the secondary. White will be on his rookie deal through the 2021 season, while safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are under contract through 2020 and 2021, respectively.

When he's healthy, Cleveland can count on Gaines to provide consistently strong pass coverage. But prior to last year, he was out for five games in 2016, and a Lisfranc injury cost him the entire 2015 season.

Gaines' injury history will add some risk to what is otherwise a sensible deal for the Browns, who have a new look in the secondary, per Mike Clay of ESPN:

For a team that gave up 28 passing touchdowns a year ago, tied for 26th in the NFL, the upgrades the past two offseasons should start to bear fruit in 2018.