The Cleveland Browns signed linebacker Adarius Taylor, the team announced Thursday.
Taylor comes to Cleveland after spending the last four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he recorded 104 tackles, 2.0 sacks, six passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles in four seasons (with the aforementioned stats being recorded in his final three seasons).
Primarily a special teamer, the 28-year-old Taylor saw his defensive snaps jump significantly after the Buccaneers lost starting middle linebacker Kwon Alexander to injury. Taylor went from logging more special teams snaps per game than defensive in the first four weeks to the opposite, finishing with 603 defensive snaps and 203 special teams snaps in 2018.
Take a look at photos of three of the newest Browns: tight end Demetrius Harris, offensive lineman Eric Kush and linebacker Adarius Taylor.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) is chased by New York Jets wide receiver Jalin Marshall (89) as he runs for a touchdown after a New York Jets fumble for a turnover, during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Adarius Taylor (53) on the field during warms up prior to NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won in overtime 26-23. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Los Angeles Rams center Eric Kush (60) during a preseason NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) catches a touchdown pass in front of Denver Broncos safety Darian Stewart (26) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Adarius Taylor (53) in coverage during a week 11 NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 in East Rutherford, N.J. New York won 38-35. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Chicago Bears center Eric Kush (64) in action during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Seahawks, 24-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Center Eric Kush #60 during the Los Angeles Rams OTA on Friday, June 10, 2016 in Oxnard, Calif. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris runs against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Adarius Taylor (53) waits for the snap during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 in Chicago. (Greg Trott via AP)
Los Angeles Rams running back Chase Reynolds (34) and Los Angeles Rams center Eric Kush (60) during a NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 27th, 2016 in Denver. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
In the rain, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) gestures during the second half of an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Adarius Taylor, left, tackles Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Chicago Bears center Eric Kush (64) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) makes a touchdown catch against Green Bay Packers safety Jermaine Whitehead (35) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Adarius Taylor (53) celebrates with linebacker Cameron Lynch (52) and cornerback David Rivers (37) after intercepting a pass by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Chicago Bears center Eric Kush (64) and offensive tackle Charles Leno (72) block during a week 2 NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018 in Chicago. Chicago won 24-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) scores against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, in Oakland, Calif. A person familiar with the deal says the Cleveland Browns and free agent tight end Demetrius Harris have agreed to a two-year contract. Harris, who backed up Pro Bowler Travis Kelce in Kansas City, will be added to the roster when the NFL free agency signing period begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2019, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because teams are not permitted to announce any moves until later. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron, File)
Kansas City Chiefs center Eric Kush (64) prepares to snap the football during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers on December 29, 2013. The Chargers defeated the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) runs away from Oakland Raiders safety Karl Joseph (42) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs center Eric Kush arrives at NFL football training camp Friday, July 31, 2015, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Demetrius Harris (84) celebrates with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, right rear, after scoring against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Hustle is a key asset for the linebacker, who covered over 1,000 yards of total distance in all but six games last season, according to Next Gen Stats.
"He is probably the second best linebacker ever to come out of Lakeland, Florida," Browns general manager John Dorsey said. "Ray Lewis was the first one. What is he? He's a shorter guy who's going to run around, he's a run-around, special teams guy who's going to give you competitive depth. You want to add those types of guys to your roster."
Taylor was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Florida Atlantic in 2014.
