Jaelen Strong the new reclamation project for the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns helped Greg Robinson and Breshad Perriman find new life in 2018, can they do the same for wide receiver Jaelen Strong in 2019?

A lot of things went right for the Cleveland Browns in the second half of their 2018 season, which is why there’s plenty of belief that they can be contenders in the AFC North this coming year. While most of the praise for their 5-3 second half has been accredited to stars such as Baker Mayfield, Nick Chubb, and Myles Garrett, there were also role players who stepped up throughout the season.

Two of those players who weren’t big names, but simply did their job, were left tackle Greg Robinson and wide receiver Breshad Perriman. Both were also players who were considered all but done in the NFL yet found new life with the Browns.

Robinson, a former No. 2 overall pick out of Auburn, was a draft bust who joined the team in June and ended up starting the final eight games. He’s now reportedly drawing interest from Cleveland as their long-term option on the blind side, which is a far cry from where his career was just one year ago.

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As for Perriman, the former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver found his niche after failing to live up to his first-round status with the Ravens. With Cleveland, he’s not trying to live up to his lofty draft status but did provide a solid deep threat as he averaged 21.3 yards per reception and finished with 349 yards through the air.

Looking ahead to 2019, the Browns are hoping to find yet another reclamation product as they signed Jaelen Strong in February. Much like the two aforementioned players, Strong came into the league with a lot of buzz. He was a star wideout at Arizona State and had built up steam as a potential late Round 1, or early Round 2 draft pick. However, a wrist injury slowed his hype and Strong ended up going to the Houston Texans at No. 70 overall in the third round.

Injuries continued to limit him as Strong managed just 28 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons with Houston. He was released just before the 2017 season began and ended up with the Jacksonville Jaguars and managed only 38 yards and a touchdown on three grabs.

Shortly after catching his first touchdown with the Jags, Strong tore his ACL and missed all of the 2018 NFL Season. Now looking to capitalize on what may be his last chance, he finds himself in Cleveland where they’re starting to gain some notoriety for the way they’re helping players find a second life.

On paper, Strong looks like the exact player this offense needs. He’s a large-bodied wideout at 6-foot-2 and 220-pounds and can offer up a red zone target while also being a good possession receiver on the outside.

It won’t be handed to him, and there could be competition in the draft, but the Browns have shown they will allow their players to prove it on the field — which means Strong could revive his career while also giving the Browns the type of wideout they were missing in 2018. In the end, the pairing may prove to be exactly what each other needs.