The Browns made another move official Monday -- their 13th since the start of the new league year -- with the signing of S Karl Joseph.
We're highlighting five things to know about the hard-hitter who spent the past four seasons with the Raiders.
1. Joseph comes to Cleveland after four seasons in Oakland, where he started at least eight games in all four seasons. Joseph's most productive campaign was in 2017, when he started 15 games and finished with 79 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. His play, though, got noticeably better over his final two years. He was the team's highest-graded defender in 2018, according to Pro Football Focus, and he was playing some of his best football in 2019 before a foot injury put an abrupt end to his season. For his career, Joseph has 236 tackles, 15 passes defensed and four interceptions.
2. Joseph's 2019 season came to an end on one of the highest points of the year for himself and the Raiders. Joseph leapt in the air to intercept a pass that ultimately sealed a 26-24 win over the Chargers, moving Oakland to 5-4, but landed awkwardly on his foot. It was the second straight game in which Joseph sealed a victory with a play he made. "I knew right away that something was wrong," Joseph told reporters shortly after the injury. "I couldn't even walk right afterwards. The next day I was rebounding. I was raised on strong faith. I've been through a lot of adversity in my life, so this is nothing new. I'll be okay."
Check out photos of safety Karl Joseph
Oakland Raiders free safety Karl Joseph (42) during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
West Virginia safety Karl Joseph (8))during the first half/ second half of a NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
Oakland Raiders strong safety Karl Joseph (42) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 26-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders cornerback Makinton Dorleant (43) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in London. Oakland won 24-21. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders free safety Karl Joseph (42) defends during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders defeated the Broncos, 24-16. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Oakland Raiders free safety Karl Joseph (42) celebrates a fumble recovery against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Oakland Raiders defensive back Karl Joseph (42) lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Houston. The Texans beat the Raiders 27-24. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) attempts to stop Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) as Witten gains yardage after a catch in the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Oakland Raiders defensive back Karl Joseph during NFL football practice Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Napa, Calif. Both the Oakland Raiders and the Detroit Lions held a joint practice before their upcoming preseason game on Friday. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
West Virginia safety Karl Joseph (8 )during the first half/ second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Raymond Thompson)
Oakland Raiders strong safety Karl Joseph (42) warms up before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs against Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oakland Raiders rookie safety Karl Joseph looks on from the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Kansas State's Tyler Lockett (16) is brought down by West Virginia's Karl Joseph during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/Christopher Jackson)
Oakland Raiders' Karl Joseph speaks to reporters during an NFL football rookie minicamp in Alameda, Calif., Friday, May 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
West Virginia safety Karl Joseph (8) is tackled by Oklahoma running back Damien Williams (26) after intercepting a pass in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Oklahoma won 16-7. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart (2) is tackled by West Virginia safety Karl Joseph (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Oakland Raiders strong safety Karl Joseph (42) during an NFL International Series game against the Houston Texans on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 in Mexico City. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (6) tries to get away from West Virginia safety Karl Joseph (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
3. Joseph has dealt with a handful of injuries throughout his career that have contributed to his seasons being a little bit shortened. A toe injury cost him the final four games of his rookie season and a hamstring injury kept him off the field for three games in 2018. The latest one, though, was probably the most frustrating because of how well he had been playing. "As a team we're starting to click," Joseph told reporters after the injury. "That's what is most frustrating for me. We started to play some real good football and I wanted to be part of this team going forward. I believe we have a strong chance to go to the playoffs. That's what's frustrating for me."
4. Joseph has done some of his best work in the NFL off the field. Joseph spent part of the 2018 offseason in Haiti, where he was born, hosting a football camp and building a bathroom for children. He brought his teammate, Cliff Avril, along with him. "It keeps me grounded," Joseph said on the NBC Sports Bay Area’s Raiders Insider Podcast. "That's one of the reasons I went back for my draft party. Anytime I get a chance to go back, I take it. It makes you appreciate the little things you have, the luxuries you often take for granted. It also makes me hungrier to work hard, play well and give back. Every time I go the memories come flooding back, which hits the reset button for me. It gets ready to come back here, ready to work."
5. Joseph gained his hard-hitting reputation as a star on West Virginia's defense. Though he played just four games as a senior, Joseph set the school record for most career forced fumbles (eight) and accumulated a whopping five interceptions in those four contests. He was all-Big 12 first team as a junior after racking up 92 tackles and three forced fumbles. The three-star recruit out of Edgewater, Florida, started every game as a freshman and went on to start 42 games. The Raiders selected Joseph 14th overall -- one spot before the Browns made their pick in the 2016 draft.
