Cleveland Browns: Travis Benjamin’s absence won’t hurt team
The Cleveland Browns added a great deal of talent at the wide receiver position after the departure of Travis Benjamin.
The Cleveland Browns lost a great deal of talent in free agency, including wide receiver Travis Benjamin.
Benjamin was the team’s leading receiver at the wide receiver position, as tight end Gary Barnidge led the team with 1,043 receiving yards in 2015.
But when Benjamin left the Browns to sign with the San Diego Chargers in March, it seemed like there would be no hope of a passing game in 2016. The best option was Barnidge, but he could easily be double teamed if there aren’t any other legitimate options on the field.
Brian Hartline was the next closest receiver to Benjamin in terms of yards, but finished with over 400 less yards than Benjamin. The drop-off in talent and production was a problem that needed to be addressed right away, and that was done in this year’s draft.
The Browns selected four wide receivers and one tight end in this year’s draft: Corey Coleman, Jordan Payton, Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Seth DeValve, who is the lone tight end.
Payton even signed a deal with the team right before rookie minicamp begins.
This influx of young receivers neutralizes any negative effects that came with Benjamin leaving. The Browns took his departure, and lack of production from those who remained on the roster, as a sign to give the receiver position special focus in 2016 during a team-wide rebuild.
Coleman was selected No. 15 overall and appears to be the favorite to win the top spot on the depth chart. Payton, Louis and Higgins all appear set to make the team.
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Hartline will find a spot on the roster because of his reputation and reliable nature, but players like Terrelle Pryor, Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel will have to prove themselves in camp to ensure a spot on the field in 2016.
All three were being looked at to replace Benjamin’s production after he left, but after the draft they look like remnants of a regime no longer in power.
In fact, Duke Johnson Jr. finished ahead of all the receivers, besides Barnidge, in terms of receiving yards last season. Sliding him into a receiver spot would take away a roster spot for either one of the rookies or the returning players, but a lack of depth at the running back position seems to point to Johnson staying there in 2016.
The point of the draft is to pick players who will fill a team’s holes, and that is exactly what was done by the Browns this year. The receiver position was not focused on with much importance by Ray Farmer, so it is nice to see a change, and the focus should pay off with great production from the new group in 2016.