Chykie

Brown

Easily Baltimore’s top cover man, Webb was ranked 23rd among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus through six weeks. Still a nucleus player on defense, Webb has a $5 million option bonus in 2013 in addition to a $2.385 million salary. Jimmy Smith has been promoted to the starting lineup, with Chykie Brown taking over as the No. 3 cornerback.

The Ravens lost Corey Graham to free agency, so Brown and Asa Jackson are the only two corners behind Ladarius Webb and Jimmy Smith. Brown was active for all 16 games last season, but played just 39 defensive snaps. It would be a surprise if Baltimore didn’t draft a cornerback with one of their six picks in the first four rounds.

Brown’s chief competition will be third-year CB Asa Jackson, who has drawn two suspensions since entering the league. They’re trying to replace Corey Graham. Brown played just 39 defensive snaps last season but made nine tackles on special teams. The Ravens didn’t draft a corner. They added three UDFA rookies.

Injuries forced Brown into spot-start duty down the stretch last season, and the Giants liked what they saw enough to bring him back on a cheap contract. The 28-year-old will return to compete for snaps in sub packages.

With Antrel Rolle gone to the Bears and Quintin Demps and Stevie Brown still free agents, the Giants are left with former fifth-rounders Nat Berhe and Cooper Taylor at safety. Berhe and Taylor have combined to play 37 career snaps. Brown is a natural corner and has never played safety. He’ll get a look in camp.

Brown, the 2011 fifth-rounder of the Ravens, appeared in 46 games for the Ravens from 2011-2014 before he was waived midway through 2014 and claimed off waivers by the Giants. He didn’t make it out of final cuts last summer and spent the season on the street. Brown will compete for a depth job.

Brown struggled on limited snaps this season, and gave up a 54-yard touchdown to Steelers WR Antonio Brown on Sunday night. With just three active corners, the Ravens could promote Tramain Jacobs from the practice squad to replace him.

It’s a depth signing after losing Prince Amukamara to injured reserve. Brown could see time in dime packages.

It’s a concern because Smith underwent sports hernia surgery last year. He was replaced in nickel packages by Chykie Brown.

Brown goes 6'0/191 and ran forty times of 4.37 and 4.40 on the Longhorns’ fast track during his March Pro Day. Some observers considered Chykie a better college player than Curtis Brown, even though Curtis was more highly rated by draftniks (and, apparently, the NFL -- but only by a bit). Still, Chykie, like Curtis, had just two career interceptions across 29 starts. He is a physical player, and made eight special teams tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2007.