With Odell Beckham, Jr. out for the season, the Cleveland Browns receiver depth is worrisome. But there are plenty of receivers on the block worth picking up.
The Browns currently only have one second string wide receiver that’s not on injured reserve in Taywan Taylor. They can’t rely on the trio of Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, and Donovan Peoples-Jones to carry them through the rest of the season. Baker Mayfield is going to need new targets of opportunity for passes, especially considering how much this current Browns offense is passing the ball under head coach Kevin Stefanski.
With the NFL trade deadline swiftly approaching on Nov. 3, Stefanski and the Browns staff are going to have to make a tough choice on whether or not to pick up a new wideout to fill the gap that Beckham is leaving in wake of his injury. If another receiver goes down, we could be seeing the collapse of the rest of the Browns season before our very eyes.
For the Browns to avoid a tragedy like that, expanding the depth of their wide receiver pool is necessary. Luckily for them, there is no shortage of talent at that position in the NFL currently, and if they play their cards right, could set themselves up to acquire an explosive talent to fill the wideout role. Whether it be a dynamic young talent or even a familiar face, the Browns need to fill this massive hole Beckham has left, and do it quickly.
With the trade deadline right around the corner, the Browns could set themselves up really well by picking up one of these three receivers.
3. Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers
This one may seem like a stretch, considering the Panthers are sitting at 3-4, but Curtis Samuel may not have much of a future in Carolina going forward. The Panthers season isn’t over just yet and they still have plenty to play for, but Samuel doesn’t fit into that playbook when the Panthers are touting D.J. Moore and Robbie Anderson.
Once Christian McCaffrey returns from injury, there also won’t be a use for Samuel in the backfield. So, it makes all the sense in the world for Samuel to come home to Ohio. In his 4 seasons with the Panthers, the former Ohio State standout receiver has totaled close to 1500 receiving yards, and 346 rushing yards, not to mention his combined total of 14 touchdowns.
It may just be time for Samuel to head back to the Buckeye state and join up with the wealth of talent in Cleveland. With his dynamic speed and his ability to get open, Samuel can be a building block for the Browns, and someone to build a dynasty on considering the fact that he’s only 24 years old. Samuel’s skill set could prove to be fruitful working with Mayfield under Coach Stefanski in Cleveland.
2. Breshad Perriman, New York Jets
Breshad Perriman was let go from the Browns in 2019 after they acquired Beckham, and ever since has found himself floating about between Tampa Bay and more recently, New York. Even though the Jets have still yet to pick up a win, that doesn’t kill the idea of Perriman reuniting with Mayfield in Cleveland.
Perriman spent a miserable three years in Baltimore without much to show but revived himself when he stepped into Cleveland. While there, he managed to pick up 16 passes for 340 yards. He also managed 2 touchdowns in 10 games while working alongside a fresh Mayfield. Currently, Perriman boasts a total of 1,679 receiving yards for a total of 11 touchdowns in his career. His familiarity with the team could prove to be very useful, and very dangerous for the rest of the league should he find himself back there.
In an ideal world, the Browns would not be picking up a receiver from a winless team, but as the saying goes: “don’t let the appearance of the tree determine the taste of the fruit.” Perriman boasts incredible speed and accuracy, and his explosive footwork would prove wonders on this current Browns offense. A second chance in Cleveland could be exactly what he, and the Browns, could need to carry them to a successful 2nd half of the season.
1. Will Fuller V, Houston Texans
The Browns picking up Will Fuller V might seem like a long shot pick for the Browns, but it may not be as far off as some might say. Fuller could potentially be the top player available on this year’s trade market. The dynamic receiver for the Texans is boasting an incredible 2,721 yards and 21 touchdowns in the five seasons he’s recorded there.
The problem is, the Texans currently sit at 1-6 and Fuller finds himself staring at free agency next year. So instead of finishing out a fantastic season for a fruitless team, Houston could look to get something back in return for providing the Browns with the second half of their star receiver’s best overall season.
The 26-year old receiver slots in perfectly with this young Browns team. The theme of the Browns is speed and accuracy when it comes to passing, so it’s no surprise that the speedy young man is the perfect pick for this aggressive Cleveland offense. Pairing Fuller with Mayfield under Coach Stefanski could prove to form an unstoppable 1-2 combo, that could lead the two respective players to lead passing and receiving yards.
Now, it’s impossible to tell if Fuller or the other two receivers mentioned are exactly what the Browns need to finish the season strong, but all three men carry incredible upsides. Extreme speed, dynamic footwork, strong agility, and teamwork make all three of them viable picks for what the Browns need. Samuel, Perriman, and Fuller could all strongly fill the hole that Beckham is leaving in the Cleveland offense, and potentially make a strong long-term addition to their wide receiver pool.
All that is known is that, if the Browns don’t pick up a strong receiver soon, they could be washing away any hope or chance for playoffs, and maybe even their first winning season since 2007.