5 one-hit wonders for the Cleveland Browns since 1999
By Greg Newland
3. Terrelle Pryor – Wide Receiver
In 2016, the 1-15 Browns did not have a lot to celebrate. Hue Jackson was the coach and fans new the rebuilding reprocess was fully underway. What fans didn’t know was Jackson was not fit to be a head coach in the league and would eventually flame out of Cleveland.
However, one player did have a nice year in 2016, a quarterback turned receiver from Ohio State, Terrelle Pryor. Previously Pryor was a quarterback with the Oakland Raiders where he saw very little success. As a starting quarterback in three seasons, Pryor was 3-7.
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Then in 2015 Pryor came to the Browns and converted to a wide receiver. The transition was tough, and in 2015 Pryor only played in three games and had one reception for 42 yards and a touchdown. The Browns saw something and kept Pryor for one additional season.
In 2016 Pryor would go off for the Browns. In 15 games he would have 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns. While this stat line may not be impressive to some, keep in mind the team won only one game that season and the team had three different starting quarterbacks because of injuries.
Pryor left for the Washington Redskins in 2017, on a one year deal the Browns weren’t willing to give him. That turned out to be the right call. Pryor would average under 250 yards receiving per season in 2017 and 2018 and bounced between three different teams.
At the time, I will admit I was ready to give Pryor a nice one-year contract to stay with the Browns. Good thing the Browns thought differently and moved one.