Cleveland Browns receivers graded No. 30 in NFL in 2015
Pro Football Focus tweeted out its grades for the worst receiving corps in 2015 and the Cleveland Browns found a spot on the list.
The Cleveland Browns drafted four wide receivers in this year’s NFL Draft after seeing the lack of production from the group on the field last season.
The best wide receiver, Travis Benjamin, left Cleveland to join the San Diego Chargers. Then Brian Hartline was released, leaving tight end Gary Barnidge and running back Duke Johnson Jr. as the only pass-catching threats returning to the team.
The lack of production was noticed by Pro Football Focus when it gave the Browns a low grade for overall team receiving in 2015.
Lowest team receiving grades in 2015:
— PFF (@PFF) June 14, 2016
28. Cowboys
29. 49ers
30. Browns
31. Rams
32. Eagles pic.twitter.com/iiw2Lhpuh4
In terms of wide receivers returning from 2015, the Browns see Andrew Hawkins enter the 2016 season as the leader in receiving from last year. He finished with 276 yards and no touchdowns. He finished ahead of Taylor Gabriel and Darius Jennings.
The four new receivers, especially first round pick Corey Coleman, will be given an opportunity to prove themselves and earn spots on the team for years to come.
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The front office has not been shy about getting rid of players from the 2015 team, so none of the returning receivers should automatically expect a spot on this team.
And with Terrelle Pryor continuing to improve, Hawkins, Gabriel and Jennings may not all have spots on this team in 2016.
The grade for the group is embarrassing, and the draft picks seem to be a direct statement that the position needed to be upgraded if this team wants to have any success on offense this season.
The running back position seems stable, for now, so it was smart to focus on the receiving spot. Whether all four rookie receivers make the roster is yet to be seen, but they certainly will be given the opportunity and should be given more room for mistakes given they are rookies.