Johnson

Bademosi

Bademosi was part of the Dolphins’ compensation for Laremy Tunsil, but the ‘Fins cut him loose after four games. Bademosi made six appearances in New Orleans, focusing on special teams. That is where the soon-to-be 30-year-old should remain for 2020 if he makes the 53-man roster.

Bademosi is an ace special teams player who can also pitch in on defense in a pinch at cornerback or safety. He’s obviously not the headliner of this deal and is signed for $2.5 million this season.

Bademosi made the Browns as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford last season, and he played 24 snaps on defense. Many thought he lacked the cover skills to survive on the outside, and the Browns have a hole at free safety. Bademosi ran a 4.39 forty and posted a 40" vertical at the Cardinal’s Pro Day.

The Browns don’t have any proven free safeties, so Bademosi is competing with Gipson to be the Week 1 starter. Sixth-round pick Jamoris Slaughter is coming off a torn Achilles’ and lacks free-safety range. Bademosi struggled to get on the field as a cornerback last year, but showed very well on special teams.

Gipson beat out Johnson Bademosi and Jamoris Slaughter to win the right to line up next to hard-hitting strong safety T.J. Ward. Gipson appeared in 10 games last year, recording one interception and 23 tackles. He graded out as ProFootballFocus’ No. 42 safety among 88 qualifiers.

Signed as an undrafted free agent last year, Bademosi led the Browns in special teams tackles with 18. He played cornerback in college, but showed impressive physicality and ability to tackle on kick coverage last season. The second-year pro will battle Tashaun Gipson in training camp for the starting job.

Bademosi is purely a special teams player, but he’s one of the best at it. He carries a $1.3 million salary for 2017 and will be a free agent next offseason.

Bademosi played one defensive snap last season, as he’s merely a special teams player where he racked up 12 combined tackles running down kicks.

The deal is worth a maximum of $6 million. Bademosi has not fared well in his defensive playing time to this point, but he is an excellent special teamer and has experience at both corner and safety. He also won’t turn 26 years old until the late summer.

Bademosi, 27, was acquired by New England from Detroit last September and played 223 defensive snaps for the Patriots while continuing his role as a special teams stalwart. He’s the highest-paid special teamer in the league.