The Cleveland Browns have certainly been stocking up on wide receivers over the last two seasons and they now have 14 on their team roster. The Browns have typically kept six wide receivers on the 53-man roster. They may have to keep seven wideouts this season, but even with that, it will be a full house.
It’s not the worst problem to have as a team that’s trying to compete for a Super Bowl. In reality, many good teams in the league, even in our own division like the Cincinnati Bengals have been loading up on wide receivers for the past several seasons.
It’s definitely now more of a competition with the wide receivers than it ever was in the past. The Browns struggled in the past with identifying a core group of wide receivers that made a difference. In recent history, the team had veterans Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., and Rashard Higgins. It was thought at the time that this group would be better than they ever amounted to in reality. Since then, there’s been a swift change to where this Browns team stands with their new squad of pass catchers.
Since last year they’ve added Amari Cooper, David Bell, Jakeem Grant, Elijah Moore, Marquise Goodwin, Michael Woods and Cedric Tillman..
(Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Of the 14 that are vying for spots, Woods recently tore his Achilles and will be out this next season so that leaves 13 players competing and battling it out.
Here’s where I believe we stand at the moment with this very crowded group going into 2023:
Automatic bids:
Amari Cooper
Elijah Moore
Donovan Peoples-Jones
Cedric Tillman
Last two in:
David Bell
Marquise Goodwin
On the bubble:
Jakeem Grant
Anthony Schwartz
Out/ practice squad:
Isaiah Weston
Marquis Stevenson
Mike Harley
Daylen Baldwin
Jaelon Darden
There are more questions than answers right now with this part of the team.
The Browns could create an individual spot for Grant because he’d primarily be your punt returner, but what other player and position would the team cut?
Schwartz has his work cut out for him. Despite going into his third season, he hasn’t clearly made a positive name for himself with this team and he may be subject to being released soon.
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
I believe Bell is pretty assured of a spot because he’s only going into a second season with the team after being drafted out of Purdue. The Browns traditionally don’t release guys after only a season under their belt. However, he will have to work hard in training camp.
In addition, I don’t believe Peoples-Jones is at risk of losing his job, However, he’s going into the final year of his contract, with the drafting of Tillman. The writing could be on the wall that DPJ is on his way out if the Browns don’t want to pay big bucks next off-season.
There’s always that risk of injury to any one of these players, and that would change all of this. However, several of these teams that we’ve seen move through the playoffs and get to the Super Bowls have built up a plethora of wide receivers. It is a passing league these days and it makes sense for the Browns to join the party.
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