Cleveland Browns most improved position groups
By Randy Gurzi
No. 1: Wide Receiver
As good as the previous moves were, the best move of the offseason for the Cleveland Browns was to go out and add wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. It wasn’t cheap, costing them a first and third-round as well as starting safety Jabrill Peppers, but it was well worth it.
Cleveland already got better last season by trading for Jarvis Landry, who had just led the NFL in receptions in 2017 with the Miami Dolphins. In addition to Landry, the Browns added Antonio Callaway while also seeing a jump in production from Rashard Higgins.
Looking ahead to 2019, the Browns now have one of the better wide receiving corps in the league. Higgins is in a contract year and should be in contention for the second starting spot outside. Callaway can challenge him, but will still be a factor even if they decide Higgins is the better starter. The second-year player will also be a factor on special teams, as he’s in line for more work as a return man.
As for Landry, who led the team in receptions last year, he should spend the majority of the season in the slot. This won’t be a bad thing for him, as it actually allows the team to better utilize his skill set — while giving Baker Mayfield a trusted pair of hands as one of his hot route options.
As good as those three can be, OBJ is the reason for the excitement. The former New York Giant is a highlight waiting to happen. He’s made remarkable one-handed grabs and can take over a game when he finds a cornerback who can’t keep up with him.
dark. Next. Predicting the Browns 53-man roster
Cleveland’s entire roster is better heading into 2019, but no position has improved near as much as it has at wide receiver.