Browns 2021 Off-Season Thread

[Randolphkeys]

Just a quick reality check... Khardarel Hodge is on a one year contract just like Higgins, but they gave him one million bucks more to do it.

Higgins is not a slam-dunk over Hodge to make the roster. Not at all.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

How many of the things people say about Higgins as reasons why he couldn't be cut are same characteristics that Austin Hooper has, and people are seemingly in favor of letting him go as quickly as financially posible?

Hooper put up numbers, was efficient, and has chemistry with Baker. The problem is simply "putting up numbers" or "being efficient" isn't a characteristic of an individual. If you can put someone else in the same situation and get similar results, then what does that person actually bring to the table?

I'd argue that Higgins doesn't actually do anything well and it is very easy to get a receiver who would have similar or greater success when put in the same situations he has been put in.

His limited numbers are a product of situation--not of individual talent.

 

[Amherstcavsfan]

How many of the things people say about Higgins as reasons why he couldn't be cut are same characteristics that Austin Hooper has, and people are seemingly in favor of letting him go as quickly as financially posible?

Hooper put up numbers, was efficient, and has chemistry with Baker. The problem is simply "putting up numbers" or "being efficient" isn't a characteristic of an individual. If you can put someone else in the same situation and get similar results, then what does that person actually bring to the table?

I'd argue that Higgins doesn't actually do anything well and it is very easy to get a receiver who would have similar or greater success when put in the same situations he has been put in.

His limited numbers are a product of situation--not of individual talent.

You can say this about someone else, IMO. I'm curious to see how DPJ produces in a bigger role this year. As far as I can tell, the only WR who has a legitimate irreplaceable talent is OBJ.

 

[Jack Brickman]

His limited numbers are a product of situation--not of individual talent.

I totally disagree.

He's very efficient when given the opportunity. Last year, he was #12 in yards per reception and #2 in yards per target, so he was clearly getting open downfield despite not being a plus athlete at the position. He was #25 in yards per route run, #32 in catch rate, #19 in contested catch rate, and #15 in QB rating when targeted. The dude is a good NFL receiver when he actually gets opportunity, and the fact that he doesn't get more is baffling to me. He must not be a great practice player or something.

Higgins barely played in 2019, but if we go back to 2018, we can see that his efficiency in 2020 wasn't just a product of Stefanski's offense. He was #30 in yards per reception and #7 in yards per target, #15 in catch rate and #5 in true catch rate, and #18 in QB rating when targeted.

The fact is, he's a good NFL receiver and his QB tends to be very good when throwing the ball his way. He was significantly better than Jarvis Landry last year when targeted. Personally, I think he does everything Landry does on the field but better and cheaper.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I totally disagree.

I know. People really like Higgins. I remember having to have this same discussion a year ago with people saying he was the best receiver on the team.

He's very efficient when given the opportunity. Last year, he was #12 in yards per reception and #2 in yards per target, so he was clearly getting open downfield despite not being a plus athlete at the position. He was #25 in yards per route run, #32 in catch rate, #19 in contested catch rate, and #15 in QB rating when targeted. The dude is a good NFL receiver when he actually gets opportunity, and the fact that he doesn't get more is baffling to me. He must not be a great practice player or something.

Higgins barely played in 2019, but if we go back to 2018, we can see that his efficiency in 2020 wasn't just a product of Stefanski's offense. He was #30 in yards per reception and #7 in yards per target, #15 in catch rate and #5 in true catch rate, and #18 in QB rating when targeted.

The fact is, he's a good NFL receiver and his QB tends to be very good when throwing the ball his way. He was significantly better than Jarvis Landry last year when targeted. Personally, I think he does everything Landry does on the field but better and cheaper.

Not a single one of these stats takes situation out of the equation.

His opportunities have been efficient.

I can't wait to hear defenses of Will Fuller, MVS, Nelson Agholor, Corey Davis, Mo Alie-Cox, Keke Coutee, Cam Sims, Allen Lazard and Gabriel Davis--who were all in the top 20 in yards per target last year.

If we want to look at yards per reception, we get to factor in studs like Breshad Perriman along with the above list.

But hey, why try to acquire #66 in yards per reception (Davante Adams) when you can get the #1 guy in the league (MVS)? I'm sure that stat correlates to the player having a positive impact on the team. Nelson Agholor was #2 and he was available as a free agent too. Imagine a WR duo of MVS/Agholor! Oh the things we could've done!

Ranking highly in these stats doesn't mean you're a good player.

For multiple years in a row now, no team in the NFL has wanted Higgins, and the Browns themselves didn't value him highly.

And yes, I know that's just going to cement people's love for him even more with a narrative as the underdog/undertalented player who "just gets it done."

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

When you say "he's efficient" that is a construct that is unclear--I feel that is a term that, if you're using, you have to define.

If you're going to define it with things like "Yards per target" then you'll have to explain why these things are positive attributes of the individual.

If every receiver were put in the same situation, with the same route, against the same defensive coverage, then yes--I could see why yards per target could be used to evaluate a player. But that's not what happens, and one look at the players on the list show that this stat doesn't equate to a player being good. It simply talks about the situation the player is in--higher yards per target means the player runs deep routes, or only gets targeted on deep routes.

There are positives about Higgins. I feel he is very good at running back towards the QB. I feel that Baker might be the best QB in the league at throwing on the run at the sideline to a receiver coming back to him--and Higgins does have a good feel for that play.

Honestly, that is the only thing that I feel he does above average. It could be worth hanging onto, but if you have OBJ/Landry/DPJ/Schwartz/Hodge all ahead of him then he could easily find his way off the roster and out of the league.

 

[CBBI]

Honestly, that is the only thing that I feel he does above average. It could be worth hanging onto, but if you have OBJ/Landry/DPJ/Schwartz/Hodge all ahead of him then he could easily find his way off the roster and out of the league.

For me personally, there’s no scenario where Hodge is ahead of Higgins in any Browns WR pecking order. Schwartz isn’t yet either, especially since he’s barely even practiced thus far in camp because of injury, but at least with Schwartz there’s the pure speed element when he’s healthy as something he brings to the table that Higgins does not.

I understand Hodge plays some special teams and Higgins does not, but I wouldn’t consider Hodge a core special teams player either.

Until Schwartz can actually get healthy and get real reps, I consider Peoples-Jones as Beckham’s backup and Higgins as Landry’s backup and those two are battling it out for WR3.

That could change as things progress and Schwartz gets up to speed, but for now I would shocked and disappointed if Higgins wasn’t firmly in the mix for snaps, especially with Beckham not fully ramped up yet either.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Personally, I think he does everything Landry does on the field but better and cheaper.

Landry made Pro Bowls in five of the last six seasons. He is recognized as one of the best blocking receivers in the NFL. Despite a few nagging injuries, this happened:


So, to say Landry isn't as good as a guy who signs for the vet minimum every off-season seems...

Fucking stupid? Sorry, I lack the right words here...

Nobody in the NFL has even a faint glimmer of the misplaced respect Browns Twitter-files have for Higgins.

Cut back on Twitter if you begin to think Higgins is anywhere close to Landry as a talent.

 

[CBBI]

Just a quick reality check... Khardarel Hodge is on a one year contract just like Higgins, but they gave him one million bucks more to do it.

Higgins is not a slam-dunk over Hodge to make the roster. Not at all.

For what it’s worth, this isn’t accurate.

Higgins signed a 1-year deal for 2.377M.

Rashard Higgins

Rashard Higgins contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

Rashard Higgins Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

Rashard Higgins contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

Hodge was a restricted free agent and the Browns tendered him an offer sheet (which he eventually signed) for 2.133M.

Khadarel Hodge

Khadarel Hodge contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

KhaDarel Hodge Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

KhaDarel Hodge contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

For me personally, there’s no scenario where Hodge is ahead of Higgins in any Browns WR pecking order. Schwartz isn’t yet either, especially since he’s barely even practiced thus far in camp because of injury, but at least with Schwartz there’s the pure speed element when he’s healthy as something he brings to the table that Higgins does not.

I understand Hodge plays some special teams and Higgins does not, but I wouldn’t consider Hodge a core special teams player either.

Until Schwartz can actually get healthy and get real reps, I consider Peoples-Jones as Beckham’s backup and Higgins as Landry’s backup and those two are battling it out for WR3.

That could change as things progress and Schwartz gets up to speed, but for now I would shocked and disappointed if Higgins wasn’t firmly in the mix for snaps, especially with Beckham not fully ramped up yet either.

If I'm making a depth chart, yeah--Higgins is more likely to see the field, today, than Schwartz.

If I'm betting on who's more likely to be cut going into the season, there's no way I'm betting on Schwartz to be cut over Higgins.

I think both DPJ and Hodge are best suited as backup X receivers. I don't think Higgins can play that role.

It'll be interesting. I assume we carry six receivers, but we could go five plus Felton. If we go five, that's going to be a tight battle assuming OBJ/Landry/DPJ/Schwartz have the first four slots.

 

[Vee-Rex]

Higgins isn't being cut, especially not for Davion Davis - I'd bet on that. I think the front office values the chemistry and comradery he has with Baker.

It gets juicier if we have to let one of Higgins or Hodge go but in that scenario I'd also bet money we'd move on from Hodge.

OBJ, Jarvis, DPJ, Higgins, and Schwartz are making the team. Hodge is a good blocker, special teams player, and has leadership qualities so I doubt he'd get cut for Davis. Davis is just the one dude that has a good camp (pretty much just a few catches, if we're being honest) that ends up getting put on the practice squad anyway - it happens nearly every year.

 

[Douglar]

OBJ, Jarvis, DPJ, Higgins, and Schwartz are making the team. Hodge is a good blocker, special teams player, and has leadership qualities so I doubt he'd get cut for Davis. Davis is just the one dude that has a good camp (pretty much just a few catches, if we're being honest) that ends up getting put on the practice squad anyway - it happens nearly every year.

I agree that Davis is still a long shot to make the team, but only because the Browns have a an embarrassing amount of talent at WR right now. It sucks to move a guy who is flashing talent to the practice squad, but there's a pretty good chance that he could hang around long enough to get an opportunity. Blake Hance stuck around last year after all.

This is so different that a few years ago that it is nearly mind blowing. Think August 2017 when we were waiting to see Josh Gordon hold it together long enough to play real games, to watch Kenny Britt bring professionalism & work ethic to the team, and to watch Ricardo Louis & Corey Coleman's shine in their second season together.

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[Randolphkeys]

For what it’s worth, this isn’t accurate.

Higgins signed a 1-year deal for 2.377M.

Rashard Higgins

Rashard Higgins contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

Rashard Higgins Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

Rashard Higgins contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

Hodge was a restricted free agent and the Browns tendered him an offer sheet (which he eventually signed) for 2.133M.

Khadarel Hodge

Khadarel Hodge contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

KhaDarel Hodge Contract Details, Salary Cap Charges, Bonus Money, and Contract History | Over The Cap

KhaDarel Hodge contract and salary cap details, including signing bonus, guaranteed salary, dead money, roster bonuses, and contract history

overthecap.com

Interesting. Didn't look at OTC, looked at Spotrac. They wrote Higgins' salary differently on the cap analysis. After a deeper dig, OTC has the more accurate numbers.

Cleveland Browns 2022 Salary Cap

Cleveland Browns 2022 salary cap, contracts, cap figures, salaries, free agents, and transactions, including bonus breakdowns, team payrolls and more.

www.spotrac.com

Appreciate the check!

 

[Kbiz]

This is so different that a few years ago that it is nearly mind blowing. Think August 2017 when we were waiting to see Josh Gordon hold it together long enough to play real games, to watch Kenny Britt bring professionalism & work ethic to the team, and to watch Ricardo Louis & Corey Coleman's shine in their second season together.

 

[CBBI]

If I'm making a depth chart, yeah--Higgins is more likely to see the field, today, than Schwartz.

If I'm betting on who's more likely to be cut going into the season, there's no way I'm betting on Schwartz to be cut over Higgins.

I think both DPJ and Hodge are best suited as backup X receivers. I don't think Higgins can play that role.

It'll be interesting. I assume we carry six receivers, but we could go five plus Felton. If we go five, that's going to be a tight battle assuming OBJ/Landry/DPJ/Schwartz have the first four slots.

Oh gosh no Schwartz isn't going to get cut as a 3rd round pick, that certainly isn't going to happen. It's just hard to know how far behind the curve he is having missed essentially all of training camp up to this point.

That said, I definitely don't think the Browns are facing a "Schwartz or Higgins, one must go" scenario either.

Last year they opened the season keeping 6 WRs and I think they'll match that again this season.

It's unfortunate that Carlson got injured, but I think the roster adjustment is going to be to not keep a 4th TE and instead keep Felton as multi-purpose weapon (RB4, Backup Slot WR, PR) on top of 6 traditional WRs with Natson being the odd man out.

Assuming Beckham can go 100% full bore in Week 1

2 WR sets
X: Beckham -> Peoples-Jones -> Hodge
Z: Landry -> Higgins -> Schwartz (this may change as Schwartz gets more acclimated)

3 WR sets
X: Beckham -> DPJ -> Hodge
Z: Higgins -> Schwartz
SLOT: Landry -> Felton

The million dollar question for me right now is who plays Z when the Browns are in 11 personnel and Landry slides into the slot.

DPJ has by all accounts had a tremendous camp, but if I'm reading the reports right, he's pretty much exclusively worked as the primary/starting X with Beckham not doing team drills.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe last year Higgins also primarily worked as the starting X last year after Beckham went down.

I personally think the Z should be Higgins, but I could see it being DPJ too. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.