The Cleveland Browns have their new free safety in a healthy Eric Hagg

When the Cleveland Browns chose not to pursue long-time fixture defensive back Mike Adams in free agency, I felt shocked and worried. Adams did anything and everything asked of him and more. He was a great player here in Cleveland and will continue to be one in Denver. But during this off-season’s OTA’s and minicamps we are beginning to see why it was easy for the Browns brass to pass on Mike Adams. And that reason is safety Eric Hagg.

The 7th round 248th overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Nebraska, missed most of his rookie year due to knee surgery. But he is back, healthy and turning heads in Berea. Hagg has been slotted as the Browns starting free safety since the first day of the Browns OTA’s and is showing why taking a chance on him late in the draft was a possible move of genius by the team’s General Manager Tom Heckert. In fact Hagg’s performance in the Browns OTA’s and minicamps has been a pleasant surprise and impressive, but under-reported due to the illusion of a QB “controversy” involving Colt McCoy and Brandon Weeden.

Hagg was not one of those guys who impressed at the NFL combine or in the Senior Bowl that year. But his game film shows that once the whistle is blown he is nothing but business. It was slightly surprising he fell to the bottom of the 7th round considering his stellar 2010 season at Nebraska. He had 5 interceptions and the team named him their “Cornhuskers” MVP as Nebraska’s defense was at the top of the nation that year.

This offseason Hagg is showing he can be a starter in this league and provided he stays healthy, he will likely start the season opposite T.J. Ward as the Browns other starting safety. So choosing not to resign Mike Adams was likely due to what the Browns felt they had in Eric Hagg. Hopefully he will help to keep the Browns passing defense at the top of the league in 2012.

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