Bringing back Jarvis Landry doesn’t solve the issue at receiver

The Cleveland Browns are a team rumored to be interested in Jarvis Landry

The Cleveland Browns receiver room isn’t the best it can be. It has two young rookies, two young-second and third-year receivers and Amari Cooper, who while better than the players they’ve had in previous years, isn’t anywhere close to a number one guy anymore. The team is relying a lot on guys like Anthony Schwartz and David Bell to make the leap, which is a huge ask. That’s why former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry is still attached to the Browns despite his release.

Landry is no longer the Pro Bowler that he was when he came to Cleveland. That 2019 hip injury wrecked what little athletism he had, and that decline in talent has affected him mentally, as he became a far less reliable pass-catcher in 2021. There was more than one game this past season where Landry looked out-matched or just flat-out bad.

That doesn’t mean he has no value, he would make a great third receiver in a three-receiver set in a very fast offense. Landry, who’s probably closer to a 5.0 40-yard dash these days, is still shifty and able to catch most things thrown his way. If you put him on an offense with a Tyreke Hill or Cooper Kupp, he’ll excel. Just like Odell Beckham did last year when he went from the number one option in Cleveland to the number three option in Los Angeles. He has value.

Just not as a starter which is what the Browns need.

Jarvis Landry should not be brought in to be a starter by the Cleveland Browns

If the Browns had a second guy, say they went in on Deebo Samuel and had Samuel and Cooper as receivers, then the Browns would be wise to go get Landry. Cooper may not be as fast as he once was, but he may be the most talented, “speed” guy, the Browns have had in years. Samuel has also proven to be able to stretch the field.

Having those two guys make Landry a far more viable option. Especially if the Browns have to ship off guys like Bell and Schwartz, or Donovan Peoples-Jones, to go get a guy like Samuel. That’s where Landry has value for the Browns.

Yet, to further bog down the receiving corp with more guys with the same skillset, when you know you have to find out what you have in Peoples-Jones, Schwartz, and Bell, would be unwise. If you have to trade two of them to move and get a better number one or another number two option, then look at going to go get Landry.

As of right now though, the Browns are better off just running with the corp they have and seeing if the young guys are any good, as opposed to signing a declining Landry.