5 Cleveland Browns WR prospects from out of nowhere

Cleveland Browns WR prospect No. 4: Travell Harris, UDFA from Washington State University

Travell Harris first of all has over 2,000 career yards as a kickoff returner and has also returned 21 punts for 158 yards. He clocked a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, with a 33.5-inch vertical and 117-inch broad.

He also had 14 reps on the bench press. As a slot receiver, he had 76 grabs for 814 yards and 10.7 yards per reception. At 5-9 and 185 pounds, we have to envision him as the Wes Welker-type slot receiver who intends to make a living dodging traffic with quick footwork.

The UDFAs are way faster than the receivers that the Browns drafted this season.

As a return man, he will back up Pro Bowler Jakeem Grant who is in his seventh year and has been at this a while. Grant is only 5-foot-7 and 171 pounds, so Harris is small but certainly not too small.

Grant, however, has $3 million worth of guaranteed money, which means he will in fact be returning kickoffs for the Browns. 40-yard dash time probably means more for kickoff returners than for wide receivers, and Grant is a 4.38 guy. However, it also means that the Browns were concerned enough about the development of Anthony Schwartz that we should probably not assume that he is an absolute lock to make the team.

If they are looking for a player to operate from the slot and become Grant’s successor in a year or two, Harris has a shot at it. He would probably have to convince the Browns that he is a better option than Schwartz.

Let’s hope that this thought process is totally wrong, and that Anthony Schwartz is totally fine, and they just had the opportunity to add a Pro Box return man and they did.

To be clear, below average play from a 21-year old rookie is expected. Normally the team would expect growth from that player in his second year and would expect him to step up and become the first-string return man.

Instead, however, they went and spent $3 million for an immediate veteran presence. That’s a warning that Schwartz may be in jeopardy. If so, there may be an opportunity for a developmental player also, and Harris could force his way onto the team.

If Harris is exciting, an even hotter prospect is Isaiah Weston, who was an FCS equivalent of a Combine freak. Had he produced similar stats in a Power Five Conference, he might have been a first-round pick.