Cleveland Browns: 5 players to watch after the first round
By Thomas Moore
The Browns are set at the outside wide receiver spots with second-year player Corey Coleman and Kenny Britt, who the Browns signed in free agency.
What they could still use is a talented player for the slot position.
Related: Browns Senior Bowl watch: Ryan Switzer
Enter North Carolina’s Ryan Switzer, who finished his senior year with 96 receptions for 1,112 yards and six touchdowns. He is also a talented punt returner, finishing his collegiate career with seven punt returns for a touchdown, one shy of the NCAA record. (A mark he would have broken if four of his touchdown returns were not wiped out by penalties.)
According to his draft profile at NFL.com, Switzer is a:
"Reliable pass catcher with low career drop rate. Sudden feet to shake press defenders out of his release. Plays at his top speed and doesn’t coast. Accelerates and separates on speed outs. Utilizes repeatable footwork in routes. Patterns are crisp. Comes out of breaks at sharp angles and snaps head around immediately to find the ball. Owns comeback routes by driving hard back to the throw. Shows traits of effective option-route specialist in short-yardage and red area. Able to defeat inside leverage technique and find his way back underneath. Had five punt-return touchdowns his freshman season and has seven for his career, with 19 career returns of more than 15 yards."
The Browns received virtually nothing from the punt return game in 2016, averaging just 6.7 yards per return and resorting, at times, to putting cornerbacks Joe Haden and Tramon Williams on return duty. An explosive player like Switzer, who can add a threat as a punt returner and in the passing game, may appeal to Jackson.