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Wide Open at Wide Receiver

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Rank the Most Impactful Browns WRs in 2014

  • Nate Burleson

    Votes: 1 1.8%
  • Miles Austin

    Votes: 15 26.3%
  • Andrew Hawkins

    Votes: 33 57.9%
  • Charles Johnson

    Votes: 5 8.8%
  • Travis Benjamin

    Votes: 2 3.5%
  • Other (Not Gordon)

    Votes: 1 1.8%

  • Total voters
    57
Kinda surprised Snead was cut, he showed some pretty good things in the preseason. However, there's no doubt they'll add another WR before the season starts.
If Vincent Brown is healthy he could honestly be the best WR on the team if they pick him up. That is really scary.
TJ Graahm, and the kid from the Lions are probably good enough to see playing time with this group.
I can't see Miles even making it to week 9 based on the past two years. Also did not think he had that great of a camp.
 
Travis Benjamin has a real opportunity to seize a ton of experience at WR. If he stays healthy, he might be the most impactful. I voted for Hawkins, though.
 
If Vincent Brown is healthy he could honestly be the best WR on the team if they pick him up. That is really scary.
TJ Graahm, and the kid from the Lions are probably good enough to see playing time with this group.
I can't see Miles even making it to week 9 based on the past two years. Also did not think he had that great of a camp.

How much of camp did you see to make the determination to add one of the two relatively terrible receivers mentioned in your post?
 
How much of camp did you see to make the determination to add one of the two relatively terrible receivers mentioned in your post?
Going by the reports in camp, Miles was up and down and dropped a decent amount of passes in camp, just like he did a few times in the pre season games. If he stays healthy (which is a Huge if, then he is out number 1 WR.) That is pretty sad if you think about the fact that he was not generating any interest in the first month of free agency from other teams who also needed WR's.

Charles Johnson and Gabriel are the two I have the most excitement about. They both have a chance to develop and show they belong in the NFL.
Does not mean I am excited or confident about the group as a whole,

They brought Hawkins in to be a slot WR (3rd WR) not the number 2. TB needs is more of returner and 5th WR on a good group.

I am already looking at drafting a WR next year with one of our first 3 picks, (really like Jalen Strong and Cooper) and possibly targeting one-two in FA.
Remember there is no assurances Gordon will be able to return, just look at the kid in Jax.
 
Add Stafon Diggs to your list of receivers to keep an eye on as well.
 
Miles Austin is our number 1. In his prime he's a good number 2 receiver but he's on the down side of his career with multiple hamstring issues. When he plays he'll be a reliable receiver because he still can get open and has good enough hands but he's not a big play guy and might have trouble staying on the field.

Andrew Hawkins is a slot guy and probably won't be asked to go out wide all that often even though we don't have much on the outside. We'll see a lot of throws behind the line of scrimmage with him. The plan should be to get him in space somehow and see what happens. I wouldn't be surprised if they use him in end-around plays too.

Travis Benjamin is a slot guy like Hawkins who they could try to go outside with from time to time. Weeded had a hell of a time getting him the ball down the field. I'm not sure if Benjamin couldn't separate (he should be able to) or Weeden couldn't get him the ball (probably the case) but in order to complete a pass down field to Benjamin you have to air it out and let Benjamin chase after it. He can't battle vs a CB for a ball. Like Hawkins, they will try to get him in space somehow.

Taylor Gabriel is another short guy who's best in space. He showed a good ability to get open and was willing to go over the middle. I hope that continues because we need a guy like that. Still we are overloaded with sub 5'10 guys who run fast.

Charles Johnson has the tools to do something but during the preseason he didn't flash and his name really wasn't brought up by reporters during practices. Expecting much from him is setting yourself up for disappointment in my opinion.

I can see Stephen Hill being a target for the Browns since he's big, can fight for the ball and has elite speed. He's a true deep threat. The knock on him was he ran go patterns at Georgia Tech and that was about it. I'm not sure if he's gotten better at other patterns but he was a 1 trick pony coming in. He played in the WCO with the Morningweig and the Jets last year so he at least will know the basic concepts on paper.

I know very little about the other possibilities at WR but you can bet we will bring someone in maybe 2. This WR corps with Gordon would look just ok, without him it's a train wreck.
 
Stephen Hill has a lot of what the Browns need from a receiver. Much like Johnson he has height, reach, and speed. Hill trumps Johnson in experience. There is a clear reason he has been cut: his route running on timing routes has been inconsistent, and therefore he struggled to get on the field with the Jets. I'd still happily take the waiver claim. He would put pressure on the defense to put a corner on him that has similar height and speed.
 
Write-up by cowboys.com when they signed him:

LaRon Byrd
WR, Miami, Fla.
6-4, 220, 4.45, Signed as UDFA with Arizona Cardinals 2012

Games Studied: 2012 Pre Season: New Orleans, Kansas City 2012 Regular Season: Chicago

Had to go back and study tape from 2012 because he missed the entire 2013 with a concussion. Is an interesting player due to his physical makeup for the position. Rangy, long build.

Played both on the outside and in the slot when the Cardinals went into “11” personnel. Would line up tight to the formation as a blocker and was more than willing to do the dirty work. Was not afraid to mix it up with defenders on the edge. Was more than just a get in the way blocker.

Really tried to finish his blocks. Would see him get square to the defender and engage. You could see this in his work on special teams when he blocked on the punt and kickoff returns.

Was used as a move guy at times. Would work hard to the flat like he did in the Chiefs game catching the ball on the move, then getting out of bounds to save time in the two minute drill. Aware. Made another adjusting catch over his head working toward the sideline in the same game.

There was some purpose to his route running. Was open against the Saints on a wheel route out of the slot but quarterback did not go his direction but would have had a huge play. Had a feel for how to work himself open against the press.

Would not call him the quickest off the line. Will build up speed as he gets going. Only had one drop on a drag route against the Saints that he should have had. Hands overall looked dependable whether he was catching inside or down the seam.

Took a huge shot from the safety in Cover 2 against the Chiefs and was able to hang onto the ball. There were a couple of snaps where he jumped for the ball where he didn’t need to but made the catch. Would not say that he is a body catcher only because he did have two snatch catches that I saw.

Was on the majority of the special teams for the Cardinals in the game against the Bears. Lined up as the L2 on the kickoff team, left tackle on the kickoff return and inline blocker on the punt return. Appeared to handle his assignments well and without issues.

His size, hands and willingness to show toughness as a blocker and special teamer makes this signing understandable because of the traits that he can bring to the roster. Very low risk signing that could work out well in the end.

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/a...-WR-Byrd/cca0c8a4-be72-4820-adf9-d74e7a467b46
 
Sounds like an undersized TE that isn't fast. .
 
Add Stafon Diggs to your list of receivers to keep an eye on as well.
I like him a lot. I was hoping he would pick Ohio State over Maryland. He is a tad small to be a number 1 Wr in the NFL, but he is very explosive. I wonder if a guy like him might sneak into the early 2nd round? Probably not.
I would not be surprised if Hawkins and Gabriel (I see TB as a more of returner then a WR) are the only ones still on the roster next year.
 
Manningham was cut, he would be a good pickup.
 
Manningham was cut, he would be a good pickup.

Well, he won't be a fan favorite... He was outspoken in his disdain for playing in Cleveland when he was a free agent before.
 

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