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So, what about Cleveland Browns special teams this season?

By Elliot Kennel

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Dontrell Hilliard #25 of the Cleveland Browns returns a kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Dontrell Hilliard #25 of the Cleveland Browns returns a kickoff against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Levi's Stadium on October 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 03: Thomas Tavierre #20 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 03: Thomas Tavierre #20 of the Cleveland Browns runs with the ball during the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on November 3, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Browns 24-19. (Photo by Rob Leiter/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Browns kickoff returner candidates

On kickoffs, the Browns averaged a modest 21.8 yards per return, ranking 21st in the NFL in return average. However, they held opponents to 20.4 yards per return, Kickoff returners were Dontrell Hilliard with 17 returns, 421 yards and 24.8 yards per return, and D’Ernest Johnson,  5 returns, 25.8 yards per return. Tavierre Thomas was second to Hilliard with 10 returns, but only achieved 20.4 yards per return.

On kickoff returns,  there is a slightly different list of candidates.  Kickoff returner is not necessarily as elusive as the punt returner but they need to have both soft hands and iron fingers, if that makes sense, to first catch the ball and then hold onto the ball while getting hit. Keeping the ball is more important than getting a good return, but for those who can handle kickoffs,  it pays to be blindingly fast.

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1. Dontrell Hilliard is the incumbent kickoff returner as well as punt returner. He did an acceptable job for the Browns (24.5 yards per kick return) though he does not have the top gear that coaches like to see in a kickoff return man. Hilliard isn’t a lock to be the kick returner in 2020.

2. Donovan Peoples-Jones did not return kickoffs in college, though this would be a natural career-broadening experience for a punt returner with a 40-yard dash time of 4.48. The Browns will have to decide how much responsibility they want to give DPJ immediately, versus later in the season or even next year.

3. Tavierre Thomas returned kickoffs last year but had a lower return average (20.4 yards/return) than Hilliard or D’Ernest Johnson, despite his 4.38 speed. Thomas is also a gunner on coverage teams, as is Hilliard.  Thomas will need to improve to hold off the challengers.

4. JoJo Natson has averaged 20.6 yards per kickoff return in his career, similar to Thomas. That is probably not high enough to win the kickoff return job for this squad, however. He has to show improvement and breakaway ability.

5. J’Mon Moore, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers, returned four kickoffs for the Packers.  He is another long shot.

6. D’Ernest Johnson put up good numbers with five returns last year (25.8 yards/return), although if we believe his Pro Day numbers (4.8 speed) he would be a very long shot to make it.

7.  Ja’Marcus Bradley, an undrafted wide receiver from the University of Louisiana-LaFayette, returned kicks in college but did not put up impressive numbers.

8.  Brian Herrien, the former Georgia running back is another very long shot, with limited experience in returning kickoffs for Georgia and posted a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, which is marginal for this job.

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