Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield may have already found his favorite WR

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield has been working with the second-team offense, but may have already found his favorite wide receiver to target.

While there is a debate among Cleveland Browns fans that Baker Mayfield working with the second-team will not help his development, Mayfield continues to put in good work during camp. It is a debate that will last until the moment the Browns coaching staff decides to give him reps with the first-team, whenever that will be in 2018.

But as that debate goes on, Mayfield has already found chemistry with one wide receiver on the second-team: Rashard Higgins. Higgins has been making plays all over the field with Mayfield being able to deliver accurate and on-time throws to him consistently.

Entering training camp, Higgins was battling for a roster spot in a crowded wide receiver room. But with Josh Gordon’s absence and injuries to Ricardo Louis and Jeff Janis, Higgins has been given a big opportunity to make plays.

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Last season, Higgins caught 27 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns. After a disappointing rookie season and not making the team out of camp in 2017, it was a strong season for Higgins.

With a quarterback that is delivering the ball where it needs to be at the right time, Higgins is starting to stand out. He does not have blazing speed and does not have the biggest frame, but his crisp route-running and solid hands has helped him become one of the biggest surprises during training camp.

The combination of Mayfield and Higgins should be fun to watch when the team hits the field during the preseason. Granted they will be playing against very vanilla defenses, how often Mayfield targets Higgins will be interesting to watch.

Higgins has certainly earned a spot on the roster for the 2018 season after being put on the practice squad after last year’s training camp. If he can continue to put up good performances consistently, he is due for a bigger role than last season. But his path for a large role this season could be impeded.

Jarvis Landry can play on the outside and in the slot, and has been making spectacular plays during the first week of camp. Gordon is not with the team currently, but the expectation is he will return before the season. None of the other receivers on the Browns roster is going to knock those two out of their starting roles.

Corey Coleman and Antonio Callaway have been getting reps with the first-team offense and both have been playing well in Gordon’s absence. They are battling to be the team’s third-receiver, and neither have disappointed during camp.

Higgins could enter himself into that battle, but it may be hard for him to overcome those two receivers. But with Mayfield as his quarterback during practices, anything can happen for Higgins.

The connection between Mayfield and Higgins has been one of the biggest stories during the first week of Browns training camp. Their chemistry may carry over into 2019, when Mayfield takes over as the starting quarterback for the entire season. And the two could be a fun combo to watch on the field.