Is Andre Holmes This Year’s Andrew Hawkins for Browns?
The Cleveland Browns reeled in Andrew Hawkins in restricted free agency last year when the Cincinnati Bengals gave him the lowest restricted free agency tender. Andre Holmes was given the same tender this year from the Oakland Raiders, a curious decision based on their huge amount of cap space. Could the Browns swoop in once again to snatch up a restricted free agent receiver? A few people seem to think so:
Intriguing RFA move: Raiders gave WR Andre Holmes the low tender, meaning no compensation if a team signs him. Could be interest.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 7, 2015
Raiders did Andre Holmes a solid w/ low tender. Will likely get a good offer sheet now. Expecting Browns to be among interested
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 7, 2015
So what do we know about Holmes? The third year player spent 7 games with the Cowboys his rookie season before moving over to Oakland. He played in 10 games in 2013 and all 16 games last year. He had 47 receptions, 693 yards and 4 touchdowns. 32 of his 47 catches went for 1st downs and he averaged 14.7 yards per reception. The year prior, in only 10 games, he had 25 catches for 431 yards and 1 touchdown. 21 of his 25 catches were for first downs and he had a 17.2 YPC average. What else do we know about the big guy? Here someone compared him to Josh Gordon:
Andre Holmes:
— Brando (@Branmancanjam) March 7, 2015
6’4”
4.53 40
35” vert
130” broad jump
11 bench reps
Josh Gordon
6’3”
4.52 40
36" vert
121” broad jump
13 bench reps
<ducks>
Interesting numbers but obviously pure athletic talent doesn’t define a receiver. Some have concerns about his numerous drops last season but others explain that Derek Carr‘s poor accuracy was to blame:
Wonder if all of those citing Andre Holmes' dropped passes actually watched all of his targets from '14, or just read the stat somewhere....
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 7, 2015
Holmes is 6-4 and while inconsistent can definitely high point the football. Other teams oughta be all over that. Panthers? I would if them
— Stephen White (@sgw94) March 7, 2015
We should comfortably be able to add the Browns to that list with the Carolina Panthers and a number of other teams. The Browns have familiarity with Holmes through new OC John DeFilippo which could lead them to pursue him hard. Holmes would have a good idea how he would be used by Flip as well which could lead to him wanting to come to Cleveland.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- 3 Cleveland Browns players who don’t deserve another season in 2023
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
The Browns, like they did with Hawk, would likely wait for a little bit to make an offer to Holmes. It first allows the team to focus on unrestricted players but it also allows the Browns to let the Raiders use up as much cap space as possible. It is unlikely, with the huge space Oakland has accumulated, that they will be able to make it tough on the Raiders cap but the Raiders are likely to be active and could sign a WR or two even.
Signing Holmes and Cecil Shorts would be a quick upgrade to the Browns receiving group and, with the addition of a receiver in the first 3 rounds of the draft, could setup Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel nicely.
What do you think about Andre Holmes to the Browns? Is he the next Andrew Hawkins?