ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A day after the Browns waived C.J. Smith, the Broncos claimed the second-year cornerback out of North Dakota State, the team announced Friday.

Smith spent most of the 2017 season in Cleveland, signing to their practice squad on Sept. 15 before being promoted to the active roster on Dec. 16. In the Browns' final three games of the season, Smith played nine defensive snaps and 23 special-teams snaps.

Prior to his time in Cleveland, Smith was a member of the Eagles. He spent the beginning of his rookie season on the practice squad before Philadelphia promoted him to the active roster in October. He played the final nine games of the season, mostly on special teams.

At North Dakota State, Smith started 43 games and was named a 2015 All-Missoury Valley Football Conference first-team selection and 2013 All-MVFC honorable-mention selection during the Bison's five-year run of consecutive FCS national championships.