Eric Wright went somewhat under the radar as the Browns' second-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft.
It was easy not being noticed in a draft haul that included offensive tackle Joe Thomas and quarterback Brady Quinn in the first round. When Wright's name was called later in the day, most Browns fans probably let out a collective, "Who's he?"
No one is wondering about Wright a year later. Having played in 14 games (13 starts) and worked his way through the ups and downs of his rookie season, he's now firmly established as a starter.
"I feel a lot more comfortable and a lot more relaxed,"
Wright said Thursday after practice. "Obviously, my awareness is up because I've been out there and I know what to expect. I'm just going out there and trying to let my physical abilities take over."
Wright is only 23, but he might be the leader among the cornerbacks. Terry Cousin, 33, has 11 years of experience, all with other teams, but he's not expected to be a starter.
Leigh Bodden held the leadership role last season, but the Browns traded him and a third-round draft choice to the Detroit Lions in return for defensive lineman Shaun Rogers. Wright considers the leadership role a shared responsibility.
"We have people like (safety) Sean Jones and Cousin that help me out a lot,"
he said. "Luckily, I don't have to do too much leading. I just lead by example."
Wright might be a reluctant leader, but that doesn't mean he lacks confidence. He stepped into a starting role in the first game last season and never seemed to get down on himself. Even when he struggled - all rookie corners have problems - he managed to hold his head high.
That quiet confidence surfaced during a recent television interview. When Wright was asked which cornerback would cover Cowboys Pro Bowl receive r Terrell Owens in the season opener, he held up a hand.
"You're always looking for the next challenge,"
Wright said. "Honestly, the next challenge for me today was to cover Braylon (Edwards) and (Donte) Stallworth out here. We'll get to those other guys as we go. That's what this game is all about - trying to compete. That's huge competition."
The Browns felt that they got a steal with the selection of Wright from UNLV. He was considered a player with first-round talent, but an off-the-field incident during his freshman season at USC raised a red flag.
Wright was accused of rape, but charges were never filed. He transferred to UNLV, where he played one season before entering the draft with one year of eligibility remaining.
"He was confident last year. He just hadn't played in the NFL,"
coach Romeo Crennel said. "Now that he's played in the NFL, he can be a little more outward with his confidence. He has tremendous talent. We were fortunate to get him when we got him. We all know what the circumstance was, but we'r e glad that we've got him."
Wright will team with fellow second-year veteran Brandon McDonald to give the Browns one of the youngest cornerback tandems in the NFL. McDonald played in 16 games last season, but he had just two starts (when Wright was out with a knee injury).
The two are different on the field Wright is stronger in coverage, while McDonald is better in run support. They're similar in that both are confident in their abilities.
They'll need that confidence facing offenses that will try to exploit their inexperience.
"We have a lot of athletic ability, and we're ready for the challenge,"
Wright said. "If guys are going to throw at us, they'll be sorry about it."
