Cleveland Browns Rookie Receivers Looking to Step Up and Produce in 2016

The Cleveland Browns were very aggressive at the wide receiver position in this year’s NFL draft. The organization drafted four receivers with the hopes of bolstering their struggling offense.

Corey Coleman:

With the 15th pick of the 2016 NFL draft the Cleveland Browns selected wide receiver Corey Coleman. The outstanding product from Baylor University hopes to start his NFL journey right where he left off in college. In his last year in college, Coleman had one of the best seasons of his career after he set the school record with four touchdown receptions in a single game, caught 74 passes for 1,363 yards, and earned 20 touchdowns. His explosive route running ability helped him get past defenders and earn 18.4 average yards per catch in his final year of college. The Cleveland Browns truly hope this outstanding receiver can stay healthy and produce the same numbers he did in college.

In a recent interview during a press conference over on ClevelandBrowns.com, Coleman was asked by a reporter if he is worried about making the team after the additions of receivers Louis, Payton and Higgins.

He responded, “I’m not worried about it at all, I’m excited to get some competition. We can push each other and really just step up the level of the receivers and really come in and help each other out, too.”

A healthy Coleman in 2016 will mean the world to the Cleveland Browns from a production and success standpoint. In my opinion, if Coleman can be as successful as he was in college then the Browns are in for quite the season.

Ricardo Louis:

If you are a fan of college football than you might remember the name Ricardo Louis. The Auburn wide receiver was the standout product that caught a miracle catch on a tipped pass to beat rival Georgia with less than one minute remaining in 2013. That catch not only sparked momentum for the team it helped them get to the BCS Championship game. Louis was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. The mediocre quarterback play by Auburn somehow helped Louis improve from his junior year in college to his senior year. In 2015, Louis caught 46 receptions for 716 yards and earned three touchdowns. The once miracle working receiver hopes to put up numbers with a solid quarterback in Robert Griffin III in 2016.

Curious about that miracle play? Here it is:

Jordan Payton:

Winning football games is in the Cleveland Browns’ fifth-round draft pick Jordan Payton. He was a UCLA record-holder for career receptions (201), a four-star recruit from a Christian High School, and a contributor that helped his team win two state titles. Payton not only led his team with 67 receptions for 957 yards and seven touchdowns in his second year as a starter, Payton is a Cleveland Browns wide receiver. The 6ft, 1in receiver hopes to make the 53-man roster and help a struggling Browns offense.

Rashard Higgins:

When an athlete had their worse season and they still put up over 1,000 yards and earned 8 touchdowns, then you know the athlete is going to standout in the National Football League. Rashard Higgins was another fifth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2016 NFL draft. He is his school’s all-time leader in receptions (239), receiving yards (3,649) and receiving touchdowns (31). This athlete has a knack for the endzone and that is exactly what the Browns need in 2016. An NFL Network scout talked about Higgins and what his selection means for the Cleveland Browns. “Hollywood” Higgins is the most pro-ready WR the Browns have selected in terms of experience in a pro-style system. He’s QB friendly with separation savvy and sticky hands. He has potential to be a short to intermediate workhorse in Hue Jackson’s offense. —Mark Dulgerian (via NFL.com)

The potential for all four of these receivers is quite evident. These athletes all have great college statistics but have one goal in mind; to help the Cleveland Browns win some football games.