An In Depth Look at the WR Position

[brooks1957]

Today, let’s look at our WR room. I feel this is one of the strongest rooms on the team. When cut down day happens, there will be players let go who don’t deserve to be cut loose because of their talent. They will be picked up by other clubs, and become contributors. This also speaks volumes to the quality of players remaining in Berea after the cuts.

The numerical association I put on everyone is simply who I think we will give the most priority to keep on the 53.

WR1 – Amari Cooper

Without question, he is the alpha male of the room. Amari is Webster-Merriman’s definition of a professional in every sense of the word. A pro’s pro. He knows how to prepare during the week. He knows how to care for his body. He makes the right decisions to stay out of off the field trouble. And lastly – he produces on Sundays – in a big way. He is worth every penny you are paying him, and he is who you want your young receivers looking up to.

WR2 – Jerry Jeudy

Jerry has no track record in Cleveland but arrives with a whole lot of promise. I firmly believe being paired with Amari (Crimson Tide brothers) will help immensely in so many ways. He was much maligned in Denver in 2023 – but one has to ask “Who was his QB in 2023?” I think he will key one of the major keys that unlocks the potential of this offense in 2024.

A quick look at some of his stats: He was 2^nd in the league (only behind Deebo Samuel) in missed tackles forced per reception (26%). He was 14^th in YAC per reception  (54 receptions/323yds/5.99per). Career stats – 8.58 yds per target (Jaylen Waddle – 9.28 yards per target).

Waddle just signed a 3 yr $85M ($76M gtd) – Jeudy 3 yr $52M (41M gtd).

WR3 – Elijah Moore

I admit, I wanted Elijah BAD coming out of Ole Miss, and was disappointed to see the Jets get him in Rd 2. His rookie season validated that feeling as he posted a solid 538 yds on 43 catches for a 12.5 ypc average.  Then, through no fault of his own, he fell out of favor in New York. The Jets needed an additional second round 2023 draft pick to facilitate the Aaron Rodgers trade, so the Browns capitalized.

Even with the unprecedented amount of QB injuries last year, Elijah posted his best season stats in Cleveland. He became a viable fly sweep threat as well. With the QB room already improved around him, I expect bigger and better things from #8 this year.

WR4 – Cedric Tillman

His rookie season was an up and down adventure to say the least. Ced’s strengths are being able to use his 6’3” frame to box out defenders and go get high pointed balls. His hands are very strong. He was trying very hard to learn the game at the highest level on the fly – and not having one consistent QB hurt him. That led to a number of mental lapses. Miscommunication about when to cut routes off, running the right routes, false starts…..I still think Ced can be a big asset to this team, but that nonsense, simply cannot continue.

WR5 – Jamari Thrash

Everyone like the full route tree he ran in college. That may be more problematic in the league due to the talent level of the DBs. But the one thing I see when I look at his tape is a potential game breaker. His straight line speed is impressive – the kind of speed that takes a 10 yard slant completion into a 74 yard house call.

He comes to us with promise – but he is a rookie, so we shall see.

WR 6 – David Bell and others

Bell has been unimpressive at best for bing the 99^th pick in the 2021draft. He hasn’t suffered from the dropsies, he just hasn’t had any signature moments expect for one play last year against the Jaguars. That is certainly not enough to guarantee a roster spot in 2024. Bell and any of the other “specialist” receivers currently rostered must have moster training camps and preseason games to hope to hold a spot on the 53.

Final WR Scuttlebutt –

As I prepare this, there is a growing groundswell that the Browns are very interested in FA WR Hunter Renfrow. I would be estatic if we agreed to terms with Hunter. His NFL career production speaks for itself. Being a college teammate of the franchise QB doesn’t hurt either. Did I mention he caught Watson’s GW TD pass in the NC game to down Alabama?

If he would sign here, I would slot him as WR4, and bump Tillman and Thrash down a spot, and say good bye to the rest.

 

To summarize - this position group is L-O-A-D-E-D.

[DaWg_LB.]

I'm with you on everything except for The assessment of David Bell, sometimes it takes a year or two for WR's to get it...and he's headed into year 3. And he's not a 6'5 235lb 4.2 running monster....I liked his hands, savvy and route running coming out of Purdue....and its not like he's had grand oportunities....playing with the P.J. Walkers and Jeff Driskols of the world.....I have him as the #5 and Thrash as the #6...

But we both agree, I think our WR corps is one of the more underrated in the NFL...only proven guy is Coop.....but I think a lot of the "It can take a Wr a year or two to get acclimated" is fixing to happen.....and we have Bell, Judy and Tillman all fitting that mold....and I think Moore who had a career high's last year has already started to get it...(I wanted Moore coming outta Ole Miss too that year....thought he might to slip to us a bit....like a Chubb, JOK or Delpit, (and to a lesser extent Greedy Williams, he was highly rated coming out)....

[Armbar]

3 hours ago, DaWg_LB. said:

I'm with you on everything except for The assessment of David Bell, sometimes it takes a year or two for WR's to get it...and he's headed into year 3.

If David Bell was gonna be a thing, we would know by now. He’s just too unimpressive as an athlete to be a good NFL player. We overdrafted him big time & every single snap he has taken has shown that. He can be a WR6 in the league, sure. But if he’s on the field for us, it’s not great. He can’t get open. He can be covered by safeties. He isn’t a RAC threat. He doesn’t make plays outside of 10 yards. And he also isn’t some big bodied box-out redzone guy either. He has nothing that is above average. Wouldn’t shock me to see an UDFA or a camp cut take his spot. He’s poopy. 

[DawgX]

Good write up.

Cooper has been a beast for us. Really hope we extend him.

I liked the trade for Jeudy, but didn't love the contract. Dude certainly has some untapped potential, though.

Moore was a bit disappointing last year, but we also didn't use him very well. Still think he has potential, and it'll be interesting to see how he does this year.

I thought Tillman honestly played pretty well last year given the limited opportunities he had. He had more playing time later in the season and I feel there was certainly more good than bad from him.

Thrash could add a much needed element to the offense, but he's a mid-round rookie so it's hard to expect much.

Bell is likely just a JAG. But as a 5th/6th receiver, he's certainly not bad.

[mtmmike]

Question where do we rank in comparison to are division with jeudy and cooper and against the cowboys in yards?

[DawgX]

29 minutes ago, mtmmike said:

Question where do we rank in comparison to are division with jeudy and cooper and against the cowboys in yards?

These geniuses won't be able to answer your hard hitting question, Mike.

[mtmmike]

No worries how goes it.

things are going great here 

saw a grizzly bear mother with a cub swim the snake river 

saw the biggest black brown bear ever in grand Teton national park history at 100 yards.

daughter got a 3.5 gpa 

so life is good.

have a good day hope life is as good to you as it is to me

 

 

 

[brooks1957]

9 hours ago, mtmmike said:

Question where do we rank in comparison to are division with jeudy and cooper and against the cowboys in yards?

I'll play Mike.

I looked over the rosters of our 3 AFCN brethren, and if I were being honest as a football fan and not a Browns fan - I would say the Bengals probably have the strongest unit, followed by the Browns, then the Rats, and lastly, the Steelers.

Even though the Bengals lost Tyler Boyd to the Titans in free agency, they still have blue chippers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as their starting wideouts, promising 2nd year player Andrei Isovias and good possession receiver Trenton Irvin - who will gobble up some of the targets that previously went to Tyler.

I think the Browns group compares favorably. By the end of the year we certainly could be better than the Bengals, but right now - the Browns are more potential to the Bengals proven receivers.

The Rats did not have any receivers that jumped off the page at me other than Rashod Bateman. He has been very good when he has played, his trouble has been staying healthy. Plus, as long as Lamar is at the controls in Crab City, the Rats are going to be a run heavy offense.

The Steelers? Wow. Promising youngsters, but major, major questions at QB. And that never bodes well for WRs.

[mtmmike]

Well first Dallas cee Dee land will outplay

both jeudy and cooper.

second bengals no discussion 

Baltimore the pay both of there receivers less then cooper.

with the 35 million we are paying for 1800

yards this is in 3rd place behind qb and tackles in miss management of funds.

I will take ravens wr duo over ares every day.

Steelers I doubt very seriously you could trade cooper even up Pickens

jeudy for whoever Pittsburgh starts Jeudy probably wins here at a cost of almost 15 million dollars more.

question brooks how many games did you see Jeudy play last year because there is a reason they gave him away.

Johnson has 700 plus yards how many does Jeudy have last year?

there I made a plausible argument for the browns being the weakest wr core

[DaWg_LB.]

15 hours ago, Armbar said:

If David Bell was gonna be a thing, we would know by now. He’s just too unimpressive as an athlete to be a good NFL player. We overdrafted him big time & every single snap he has taken has shown that. He can be a WR6 in the league, sure. But if he’s on the field for us, it’s not great. He can’t get open. He can be covered by safeties. He isn’t a RAC threat. He doesn’t make plays outside of 10 yards. And he also isn’t some big bodied box-out redzone guy either. He has nothing that is above average. Wouldn’t shock me to see an UDFA or a camp cut take his spot. He’s poopy. 

I agree that's one way to look at it....but its still something to be said about WR's taking up to 3 years to develop....Look at Nico Collins, Cooper Kupp and Chirs Godwin types....all of them "Got it" in their 3rd year....not saying that is going to happen for Bell...but I really liked him as a prospect coming out...he didnt have the size or athleticism of some, so I figured it would take him a year or 2 to turn into a Poor Mans Jarvis Landry....the Uncertainty at QB, with playing in a Run 1rst/Run 2nd offense and getting hurt his rookie year....I say this is the year he shows he's not meant to be there...or he learns how to run routes vs. pro defenses and helps us snag that Lombardi

[Dawgpoun8017]

17 hours ago, DawgX said:

Good write up.

Cooper has been a beast for us. Really hope we extend him.

I liked the trade for Jeudy, but didn't love the contract. Dude certainly has some untapped potential, though.

Moore was a bit disappointing last year, but we also didn't use him very well. Still think he has potential, and it'll be interesting to see how he does this year.

I thought Tillman honestly played pretty well last year given the limited opportunities he had. He had more playing time later in the season and I feel there was certainly more good than bad from him.

Thrash could add a much needed element to the offense, but he's a mid-round rookie so it's hard to expect much.

Bell is likely just a JAG. But as a 5th/6th receiver, he's certainly not bad.

I am fine with the Jeudy Contract they are basically doing the same thing they did with Chief, they believe they are buying low and hoping and hoping that he can put everything together here, and looking at upcoming WR contracts if that is the case he will be at a bargain

[mtmmike]

50 minutes ago, Dawgpoun8017 said:

I am fine with the Jeudy Contract they are basically doing the same thing they did with Chief, they believe they are buying low and hoping and hoping that he can put everything together here, and looking at upcoming WR contracts if that is the case he will be at a bargain

Nice

[Kiwibrown]

David Bell is like a Lada version of Jarvis Landry. Could see him making the PS I doubt he has a whole of interest on the market. 

Tillman looked good then meh. Needs to learn to run route, has some tools. Needs to get faster. 

I'm thinking Juedy is a bad deal. Good talent.

Cooper had a career year Would love to see 100 receptions 1400 yards and 9 tds. 

Moore is more buzz than good. Maybe better as a slot.

[mtmmike]

On 5/31/2024 at 8:46 AM, DaWg_LB. said:

I agree that's one way to look at it....but it’s still something to be said about WR's taking up to 3 years to develop....Look at Nico Collins, Cooper Kupp and Chirs Godwin types....all of them "Got it" in their 3rd year....not saying that is going to happen for Bell...but I really liked him as a prospect coming out...he didnt have the size or athleticism of some, so I figured it would take him a year or 2 to turn into a Poor Mans Jarvis Landry....the Uncertainty at QB, with playing in a Run 1rst/Run 2nd offense and getting hurt his rookie year....I say this is the year he shows he's not meant to be there...or he learns how to run routes vs. pro defenses and helps us snag that Lombardi

Question to extend cooper52 million guaranteed do you sign him?

[DaWg_LB.]

On 6/2/2024 at 10:30 AM, mtmmike said:

Question to extend cooper52 million guaranteed do you sign him?

2 to 3 years I could see that....(like a 3 year 78M, with 52 Guaranteed)

I think the price of the Oline is about to come WAY down next year....but with the way our cap room is going to work, I think we all demand to keep JOK and Emerson...and both are going to be pretty expensive....we have 2 years for Emmerson....but JOK is coming up next year isnt it?