The Browns signed cornerback Dimitri Paterson to a three-year, $16 million contract in March.
He wound up making it nine months into the deal before the Browns asked him to pack his things and go. The team announced Monday that they have waived Patterson.
Patterson played seven games for the Browns this year, starting four while Joe Haden was suspended, and made 28 tackles with no interceptions on the year. Strangely enough, those are the same exact totals that he put up last season while playing in 14 games for the team. Patterson mostly served as a nickel corner, a role that will fall to Buster Skrine.
Patterson wasn’t likely to return on that contract next season, so this may just be an early bit of housekeeping so the team can take a look at players with a better chance of remaining in the organization. The Broncos are next up on the schedule so Skrine and others will get their fair share of action.