Cleveland Browns: Terrelle Pryor’s stock continues to rise

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor has risen up the depth chart since becoming a member of the team last season.

Terrelle Pryor and the Cleveland Browns are a perfect match.

While Pryor’s career as a quarterback was floundering, the Browns decided to give him a chance as a wide receiver. He finished with only one reception in 2015 and looked to be a possible roster casualty with the new front office and coaching staff coming to town, but his history, although limited, with Hue Jackson has led to Pryor becoming one of the top receivers on the team as of right now.

The Browns released an unofficial depth chart yesterday and it featured a major surprise. While fans expected to see Corey Coleman’s name listed as a starting receiver, it was almost unbelievable to see Pryor listed as a starter at the other receiver slot.

This depth chart is unofficial as it will continue to change throughout the preseason, but it is a great sign for the former quarterback who just made the switch to wide receiver a year ago.

If he does begin the season as a starter there is the chance he will lose that role to Josh Gordon upon Gordon’s return in Week 5. But Pryor would still see a lot of playing time, as Gordon needs to adjust to the NFL game after not playing in a regular season game since 2014.

Gordon’s return aside, it is clear Pryor has made the jump from someone who looked to be out of a job to a key contributor on a rebuilding team. Standing 6-foot-4, he towers over the rest of the receiving corps and becomes an instant downfield threat, which was made evident during last weekend’s Orange and Brown Scrimmage in Columbus.

His speed has never been a concern and if he can perfect the routes he has to run, Terrelle Pryor could be one of the NFL’s top surprises of the 2016 season. Opening the season alongside both Coleman and Gary Barnidge will open up the field for the former quarterback, allowing him more opportunities than he would have seen as a full-time receiver last year.

It is a bold prediction, but Pryor has the chance to be to the Browns in 2016 what Josh Gordon was to the team in 2013. It all depends on how well Robert Griffin III does as quarterback, but he will be helped by the big-play potential of Pryor.

Next: Browns release unofficial depth chart

Friday’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers will be a huge test for Pryor, who should be able to hold down the top spot on the depth chart for now. He just needs to continue improving and make Hue Jackson look smart for putting so much faith in the former quarterback.