Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Browns training camp: Bold predictions for the offense

By Ryan Landolph

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 11: A view from the end-zone during the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 11: A view from the end-zone during the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: (L-R) Corey Coleman of Baylor holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: (L-R) Corey Coleman of Baylor holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked /

Despite desire to add veteran receiver, the Cleveland Browns find no feasible options…in free agent pool

When the Browns opened camp, de-facto general manager Sashi Brown mentioned his desire to add a veteran receiver to the mostly-inexperienced group.

Right now, the Browns have four second-year players in Corey Coleman, Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton and Ricardo Louis vying for targets. The only veteran expected to demand significant targets is free agent signing Kenny Britt.

Looking at the group, there are a lot more unknowns beyond being a little ripe. Coleman missed a ton of time last year with injuries and suffered the same fate in OTAs this year. Payton faces a three-game suspension to begin this season.

More from Cleveland Browns

Add in the fact that the team’s two main tight ends are rookie David Njoku and second-year Seth DeValve, and there is certainly a need for veteran leadership. However, options are few and far between.

As of right now, there are really only four possibilities in free agency the Browns could look to add.

The first, and certainly most intriguing, is Anquan Boldin. After spending last season in Detroit, where he started all 16 games, he finished second on the team in catches and led the team with eight touchdowns, he is back on the market. Boldin told Arizona Sports 98.7 earlier this year he wanted to sign “right before training camp,” which has already come and gone.

Boldin also said he is looking for the “right situation” in the interview. This could mean he wants to play for a contender or close to his home in Florida. Both of those options make the Browns and unlikely landing spot.

Two options have health concerns, which make a stint with the Browns hard to see. Vincent Jackson is 34 years old and is coming off an ACL injury. Likewise, Cecil Shorts is coming off a debilitating knee injury, which saw him tear his ACL, MCL, PCL and dislocate his kneecap.

Possibly the last option is Dorial Green-Beckham. The Tennessee Titans gave up on DGB after making him a second-round pick in 2015. He lasted just one year on their roster before the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a shot. Green-Beckham lasted just one year there, before being cut this offseason after reportedly turning in a “pathetic” performance at OTAs, leading Rotoworld writers to question his heart.

Next: Five Browns related names for fantasy football

None of these options sound like they could be serious candidates for the Browns roster. While cuts will occur and more vets will hit the open roster, the situations for many of them could be the same as the four mentioned above.

Home/Cleveland Browns