The Browns identified starting cornerback Jamar Taylor as part of their foundation and secured him Saturday with a three-year contract extension.
The deal is worth $15 million, including a $3 million signing bonus and $10.05 million in the first two years of the contract, a league source confirmed.
Taylor, acquired during April’s draft in a trade with the Miami Dolphins, had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March until he signed the new deal with the Browns.
“Jamar has been a really good addition to our secondary and we are happy to come to an agreement with him on an extension,” Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown said in a news release.
“He’s an extremely hard worker and has shown true perseverance throughout his NFL career.
‘‘His veteran presence and flexible skill set that allows him to function at nickel and corner has proved to be a valuable asset to our team. Jamar is a solid performer that has made some nice plays for us over the course of season and we look forward to him contributing to Browns victories in the future.”
Taylor, 26, has started 10 of the 11 games in which he’s appeared this season and compiled 40 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defensed. ProFootballFocus.com ranks him 37th among 123 cornerbacks.
He first surfaced on the injury report with a groin issue on Oct. 27 and has been fighting it ever since. He missed one game — Nov. 10 against the Baltimore Ravens — because of the injury.
The Dolphins drafted Taylor in the second round (No. 54 overall) out of Boise State in 2013. However, injuries and drama behind the scenes contributed to him being labeled a bust in Miami.
He started just nine games in three seasons there and failed to register a single interception.
A change of scenery has enabled Taylor to revive his career, though.
The Browns traded a seventh-round pick (No. 223 overall) to the Dolphins for another seventh-round choice (No. 250) and Taylor, 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds.
The Dolphins selected quarterback Brandon Doughty at No. 223, and the Browns picked linebacker Scooby Wright at No. 250. Doughty is on the Dolphins’ practice squad, and Wright is on the Browns practice squad.
As for Taylor, he’s a full-time starter for the first time in his career and a piece of his new team’s future.
“I think he has been an unbelievable acquisition for this organization,” defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi said Nov. 29. “You talk about a pro, a guy that has played both positions for us — corner and nickel — and played them well.
‘‘He is actually having one of his best years in the league, and I look for him to continue to grow the same way.
‘‘I really expect big things from him next year and the rest of these last four games.”
Two other impending free agents the Browns consider building blocks and hope to re-sign are wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and linebacker Jamie Collins.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.