Cleveland Browns: Breaking down the notable 2017 roster subtractions
It is hard to think of anything negative to say about Andrew Hawkins. While the Browns as a whole struggled during his three years with the team, he always put in his work and was a reliable target for whomever lined up at quarterback.
He recorded 824 receiving yards back in 2014 when the team gave fans hopes of a playoff berth, but we know how that ended. His numbers dropped significantly the next two seasons, which is why the front office likely opted to let him go in favor of keeping the young receivers on the roster.
More from Dawg Pound Daily
- How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
- Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
- 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
- Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
- 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target
Hawkins is now with the New England Patriots, where his style of play will fit perfectly. If the level of quarterback play displayed by Brian Hoyer in 2014 remained in town in 2015 and 2016, perhaps Hawkins could have repeated his 2014 success.
But as with others on this list, the overall lack of talent on the rest of the roster did nothing to help him succeed. Hawkins’ release sticks with the overall theme of choosing young talent over veterans, while keeping him in town would only take playing time away from the players this front office wants to evaluate.
One day, hopefully soon, the Browns will be good again and seek out the veteran presence of a player like Hawkins, but the young core must produce some victories before anyone should get their hopes up.