Cornerback Brandon Browner has been part of winning the past two Super Bowls. Although he was suspended for the end of the 2013 season, Browner helped the Seattle Seahawks to home-field advantage en route to the championship. Last season, Browner was an integral piece in the New England Patriots’ run to glory.

The New Orleans Saints are hoping Browner can win his third Super Bowl ring in as many seasons. After three seasons in Seattle and one in New England, Browner signed with the Saints during free agency. In 2014, the Saints ranked 31st in total defense, surrendering 384 yards and 26.5 points per game. The Saints also finished a putrid 25th in pass defense and came away with only 12 interceptions.

General manager Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton aggressively attacked the offseason to bring in reinforcements for defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. The Saints signed Browner and outside linebacker Anthony Spencer in free agency, traded for linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, and then drafted linebackers Stephone Anthony and Hau’oli Kikaha in hopes of quickly turning around a porous unit on defense.

The way Ryan uses Browner this season will be interesting to watch. Browner brings a physical presence and leadership qualities. While Malcolm Butler gets the credit for the game-clinching interception in the Super Bowl, it was Browner’s ability to get a good jam and hold his ground that helped give Butler the space needed to break on the ball. Browner, 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, also has some glaring weaknesses that were covered up in Seattle and New England.

Browner went from being a complement to Richard Sherman to playing opposite Darrelle Revis, arguably the two best cornerbacks in the NFL. Now he joins Keenan Lewis, who is a solid performer but can’t be compared with either Revis or Sherman. The Patriots and Seahawks were able to provide Browner with help over the top, because they trusted Revis to lock up his man and Sherman to lock up his side of the field. I don’t think Lewis has earned that level of trust yet, and if he hasn’t, Browner will have to be more aware of getting beat deep.

That’s a problem, because Browner, who excels at mauling receivers off the line, has trouble flipping his hips and keeping up with the quicker and faster wideouts in the game. His inability to change directions could cause the Saints to change the way they use their dynamic tandem at safety. Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro are both coming off disappointing, injury-plagued seasons. If healthy, the athleticism and talent of Vaccaro and Byrd should give the Saints plenty of options to help Browner do what he does best.

Browner and the secondary will certainly have their hands full while facing a talented array of receivers in 2015. New Orleans has tough receivers in its division with the Atlanta Falcons‘ Julio Jones and Roddy White, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ tandem of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. The Saints also face plenty of challenges out of the division as Dez Bryant, Calvin Johnson, DeSean Jackson, Larry Fitzgerald, T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Odell Beckham, Jr. and Victor Cruz are all on the docket this season, making an improved secondary a must if the Saints are to challenge in the NFC.

If Browner struggles with receivers, Ryan could play more zone, or even possibly use Browner’s immense size and length as an option to shut down the better tight ends in the league.

It will be fun to watch how Browner fares during training camp and preseason. If he fails to prove he can consistently get the job done, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Delvin Breaux, Brian Dixon and rookie P.J. Williams will challenge for a starting role. If Browner shows the ability to handle the one-on-one challenges he will face on a weekly basis in 2015, the Saints will be greatly improved on defense and a dark horse in the NFC.