Browns: 5 most underpaid players for the upcoming 2021 season

4. Rashard Higgins

According to the man himself, Rashard Higgins turned down nearly $2 million more to return to the Browns. That’s how much faith he has in Cleveland and Baker Mayfield. Mayfield and Higgins have found a nice grove that should benefit the duo a lot in 2021, the only problem will be how Higgins fits on the field with Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr, Austin Hooper, and Harrison Bryant.

With the injury issues that Landry and Beckham have had historically, and Hooper’s flareups last year, Higgins may get a lot of opportunities, especially if Beckham gets hurt again or is ultimately traded. For just $2.37 million, Higgins makes for a great insurance policy, much like Ronnie Harrison.

Unlike Harrison, Higgins could be a viable number two receiver if the Browns were willing to give him a chance. Higgins caught 71% of all passes thrown his way, and he only had 52 passes total thrown at him. If he were to have, say, 100 targets, he’d be well over 1,150  yards receiving at the rate of receptions and yards per catch.

That’s some great production. He’s efficient, only Landry had a better target to catch ratio and has shown to be on the same page as Mayfield, something Beckham has been anything but. If we’re doing dollars to donuts, there’s no reason to not rely on Higgins as the second option, ship Beckham away for draft picks, and continue building and reloading this team for years to come.