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Cleveland Browns: Top 5 receiving seasons since 1999

By Randy Gurzi

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns catches a touchdown reception during the second half against the Buffalo Bills FirstEnergy Stadium on October 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bills 37-24. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Josh Gordon #12 of the Cleveland Browns catches a touchdown reception during the second half against the Buffalo Bills FirstEnergy Stadium on October 3, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bills 37-24. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch in front of Julian Stanford #51 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 30: Gary Barnidge #82 of the Cleveland Browns makes a catch in front of Julian Stanford #51 of the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 30, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1,043 yards, 9 TDs. Gary Barnidge. 4. player. 53. . 2015

We have our first tight end on the list and if we are all being honest, this is a player we never saw coming. Gary Barnidge was originally drafted in the fifth-round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He played for them until 2012 and after that, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as a backup tight end.

When he joined the Browns, Barnidge had just 18 career receptions and wasn’t expected to be much more than a depth piece for them. That was the case his first two seasons as he had 127 yards and two touchdowns in his first year and then added another 156 yards his second season in Cleveland.

Then he had a breakout season in 2015 which led to him becoming a household name. Barnidge pulled in 79 receptions that season for 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns — which was better than all the stats he had compiled in his career up to that point. He even tied Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome for the most touchdown receptions by a tight end in Cleveland history.

Making his big season even more impressive was the quarterback situation he was faced with. Barnidge was catching passes from Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel for the majority of the season, while also playing alongside Austin Davis for two starts.

Barnidge was solid in 2016, but nowhere near as good. He had 55 receptions for 612 yards and two scores. He was released following that season and hasn’t played since.

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