Analyzing the Cleveland Browns depth chart at wide receiver
By Randy Gurzi
The Wildcards: Derrick Willies, Damion Ratley, Jaelen Strong
The first four slots are all but set for the Browns as no one will be pushing out OBJ, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, or Rashard Higgins. After that, it’s anyone’s guess and it’s hard to say who the final players will be — we also don’t know if Cleveland will go five or six deep at the position.
Looking at the depth chart, six could be a safe bet since there’s some talent beyond the four bigger names. These ‘wildcards’ in the locker room include a couple of second-year players and one veteran trying to rebuild his image.
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Derrick Willies was undrafted out of Texas Tech but built a great rapport with Baker Mayfield in the preseason. After pulling in four receptions for 42 yards, the Browns took a shot on the 6-foot-4 wideout and he ended up playing in five games as a rookie. He was instrumental in their Week 5 win over Baltimore as he hauled in his first three career receptions for 61 yards.
Unfortunately, he fractured his collarbone in that game and missed the remainder of the season. Willies still showed enough to be in consideration this year and remains an intriguing prospect.
Also intriguing is Damion Ratley, a sixth-round pick last season out of Texas A&M. The 6-foot-3 Ratley has blazing speed and averaged nearly 20-yards per catch collegiately but had just 47 career grabs. As a rookie, he had 13 receptions for 144 yards but finds himself in a position where he will have to fight for a roster spot.
One player who could challenge him is former ASU star Jaelen Strong. Originally a third-round pick of the Houston Texans, Strong never lived up to his promise and was waved during his third season. He landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he played just one game before tearing his ACL.
Trying to work his way back from the injury, and missing all of 2018, Strong also has a long journey to the 53-man roster. However, he does have some experience to lean on as he enters the season with 31 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns in his career. If nothing else, he can make it an exciting competition.