5 Players Cleveland Browns should claim on waivers

4. Hakeem Butler, Wide Receiver

The Browns didn’t make any surprising moves at wide receiver as they kept Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, and rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones behind starters Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry (they kept JoJo Natson as well, but he looks to be a return specialist more than anything). That’s not a terrible receiving corps but there’s one thing lacking from it — a big-bodied wideout.

Right now, Peoples-Jones serves as the biggest receiver in Cleveland, coming in at 6-foot-2 and 212-pounds. Hodge is similar in size at 6-foot-2 and 205-pounds and Higgins is right there as well at 6-foot-1 and 198-pounds. As for their top two guys, both OBJ and Landry are less than 6-foot-tall with Beckham listed at 5-foot-11 and 198 and Juice at 5-11 and 196-pounds.

Clearly, the height has not been an issue for either of their star wideouts but that doesn’t mean there aren’t times when lining up a big receiver would be a great option. Sure, there are tight ends in Cleveland who can help in this role but it’s hard to beat a true big-bodied wideout some times.

For that reason, the Browns should seriously consider putting in a claim for Hakeem Butler. The former Iowa State Cyclone was drafted in the fourth round last year by the Arizona Cardinals but found himself buried on a talented depth chart. He’s an intriguing player who stands 6-foot-5 and 225-pounds and has an incredibly large catch radius.

Butler does struggle with drops but that’s something he can work on — and it’s not as if the Browns would be targeting him several times a game. Instead, he could be a situational player who they try and develop long-term.