Browns owner Jimmy Haslam: Justin Gilbert 'clearly needs to mature'

Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert struggled both on and off the field during his rookie season and must now prove to team owner Jimmy Haslam that he's fully committed to his football career. 

"Justin clearly needs to mature," Haslam said Wednesday, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. "I'm not telling you anything I hadn't told him in the past and hopefully he'll be able to do that. But we're fully supportive of Justin. He's a very gifted athlete and you saw a flash of it (when he returned an interception for a touchdown) in the Indianapolis game. (You) could argue that was maybe the best play we had all year.

"So he's clearly gifted, and we hope he can mature and understand what it means to be a professional. And it's a long year and long days. It's much different from college, where I think the work week's 20 hours, plus you play a game on Saturday. You play 12 games versus 16. The adjustment for some of these rookies is tough."

Gilbert, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 draft, recorded 29 tackles, eight passes defensed and an interception in 14 games. He saw less playing time than undrafted rookie K'Waun Williams and was suspended for the season finale after receiving multiple warnings about showing up late to team meetings. 

However, Haslam is optimistic that Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel, who had his own struggles last season, can turn things around.

"I think the jury is still out, despite the struggles they had at the end of the year, on our two first-round picks," Haslam said. "We've not given up on them at all. We still think they can be contributors to the team, maybe outstanding contributors.

"I think after one year with 22-year-old individuals, it's a little quick to write them off. Now if we're sitting here two years from now and they haven't contributed, that's fair game and comment."