Dawg Pound Daily
FanSided

Cleveland Browns may have found big play threat in Corey Coleman

By Giovanni Castelli

Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Corey Coleman (1) stiff arms Oklahoma State Cowboys place kicker Ben Grogan (19) after an onside kick attempt in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Baylor won 45-35. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Corey Coleman (1) stiff arms Oklahoma State Cowboys place kicker Ben Grogan (19) after an onside kick attempt in the fourth quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Baylor won 45-35. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Cleveland Browns may have solved their playmaker problem with the selection of wide receiver Corey Coleman.

“With the 15th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select wide receiver Corey Coleman, Baylor University.”

And so it was written, the Browns landed the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner with their first selection of what would be one of many throughout the draft.

Coleman’s selection would start a recurring theme for each selection made by the team: draft high character guys who overcame adversity and were productive on the college level.

Coleman fits that bill as he grew up in a tough Dallas neighborhood and home life. His father is currently serving hard time for felony cocaine distribution, but Coleman was able to persevere with the help of his mother, Cassandra Jones, and his godfather, former Baylor and NFL star defensive back Ray Crockett.

Many scouts compare Coleman’s skill set to former NFL standout Percy Harvin. NFl.com’s draft profile on Coleman describes him as an “instant blur off the snap.” His 4.37 40-yard dash time made Coleman the fastest receiver available in the draft, and his ability to get into the endzone and score touchdowns is what made the Browns gravitate toward him in the draft.

With head coach Hue Jackson taking over the team, the focus was to bring in offensive playmakers that could break the game open. With the selection of Coleman, the Browns did just that.

Coleman comes into an ideal situation as the Browns lack any elite playmakers at the wide receiver position. Granted, at 5-foot-11 he is not the tallest receiver, but Coleman boasts a 40.5-inch vertical that will help him go for jump balls with the top corners in the league.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

He should also excel at the line of scrimmage. As defenders try to jam him at the snap, Coleman will make them pay by flying past them with his speed. Whoever is the Browns starting quarterback should benefit greatly from having such a fast, nimble weapon in the passing game.

Coleman also excels in special teams as he excelled on kickoff and punt returns at Baylor. His top flight speed makes him an extreme threat in the return game to break the big one and get into the endzone as well.

Overall, the projection for Coleman is as a plug-and-play starter at the receiver position. The Browns expect him to start week one at Philadelphia and be a threat at the position for years to come. An ideal rookie campaign would consist of 900-1,000 yards receiving along with eight to 10 touchdowns.

If Coleman can come in, start and make plays out of the gate, the Browns may have found the playmaker at the receiver position that they coveted since Josh Gordon’s breakout 2013 season.

For a team that lacks playmakers on the roster, this is one piece to building a quality roster of talent and the thought is Coleman is just that.

Home/Browns News