Receivers on Browns radar
The Cleveland Browns reportedly have six wide receivers on their radar.
It has become abundantly clear that the Cleveland Browns are not content with their current group of wide receivers. According to a report from Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Cleveland currently has six wide receivers on their radar. One has already been mentioned as potential reunion option in Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns have checked in on the the free agent during his private workout earlier this week. Just who are the others mentioned as potential targets?
Non-OBJ Free agents
One player in particular has recently become available with a clear connection with Kevin Stefanski, Adam Thielen. Thielen is an older option who does not possess the speed that Browns twitter craves, but is someone familiar with Stefanski and can be a productive secondary target in the passing game.
For those looking for speed it is Mecole Hardman who looks to be a bit more appealing. Hardman is young and quick (two things Thielen is not) and can be a difference maker for the Cleveland offense. The Browns are truly missing a reliable speedy option in the passing game, but it can be dicey to bank on acquiring these types of players via free agency.
If size and speed turn out to be what Cleveland is looking for then DJ Chark should be towards the top of their list. The former Jaguar and Lion will not be waiting long for offers as many teams covet his skillset. Chark will not come cheap and most contract projections have priced him out of what Cleveland should be allocating when they have more pressing needs elsewhere.
Trade targets
This could change relatively soon due a quarterback upgrade on the horizon (Aaron Rodgers), but Elijah Moore is a young cost controlled options that Cleveland should target aggressively. There were rumblings connecting the Browns to Moore last season with the young receiver remaining in New York. Perhaps the Jets may be more inclined to make a move now rather than the middle of last season.
A predictable name has popped up on this list in Brandin Cooks. Cooks and Watson played one season in Houston together in 2020 with good results. The soon-to-be 30-year old receiver finished with 1,150 yards and six touchdowns on 81 receptions. Adding another high salary option at receiver seems to be an unappealing scenario. Cleveland just got out from allocating a high dollar figure to two receivers and that seems like a path they might hesitate to duplicate. Of course they could restructure contracts of one or both high paid options, but that is only speculative at this moment.
If the Browns add any of these options, or anyone else for that matter, it would be a welcome addition. Cleveland must realize they need to capitalize on their roster now and not keep pushing it back a year. There is simply too much top end talent to waste another year in the bottom half of the division.
