5 Former Cleveland Browns who would thrive on 2021 roster

4. Josh Cribbs, WR/KR

The one thing that this 2021 Browns roster doesn’t have is an elite return man, and that’s exactly what Josh Cribbs was. A dual-threat quarterback at Kent State, Cribbs had 7,169 yards passing with 45 touchdowns in four seasons but it was his running that put him on the map.

He topped the 1,000-yard mark in each of his first two seasons and finished with 3,670 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground. It wasn’t enough to get him drafted but Cleveland liked his playmaking ability enough to bring him in as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

For eight seasons, he was the most electric player on the Browns roster. Unfortunately, he was there for just one winning season — when the team was 10-6 in 2007 but just missed the playoffs — but Cribbs still gave it everything he had on every play.

By the time he was done playing for Cleveland, he had 195 punt returns for 2,154 yards and three touchdowns. He was even better returning kickoffs, going for 10,015 yards there with eight touchdowns.

Cribbs got in on the action as a receiver/running back as well, running for 753 yards and two touchdowns while catching 107 passes for 1,161 yards and seven more touchdowns. He finished his career by playing one season with the Jets followed by one in Indianapolis where he finally got a shot at the postseason.

Adding this lighting rod back to this team — with this staff — feels like it could be a lot of fun.