Cleveland Browns: 3 free agent wide receivers to target if David Bell injury lingers

David Bell was placed on the PUP to start training camp but if the injury lingers, the Cleveland Browns might want to look at these three free agents

Cleveland Browns rookies reported to Berea this Friday and the big news upon their arrival was a foot injury that forced David Bell to the PUP list.

The team says this isn’t a serious injury and that he should be back at practice soon, but we’ve also seen these “non-serious” injuries linger in recent years. Because of that, the Browns might want to bring in some reinforcements.

They did recently work out Darrius Shepherd and Derrick Dillon while trying out A.J. McCarron and Josh Rosen, but it would probably be best to land some experienced talent.

3 free agent receivers Cleveland Browns can target if Bell’s injury lingers

3. Chester Rogers

Undrafted out of Grambling State in 2016, Chester Rogers played for the Indianapolis Colts for four seasons. During that span, he developed into a decent receiver, pulling in 111 catches for 1,221 yards with five touchdowns.

He was never a star but when he had to start 10 games for the Colts in 2019, he had 485 yards and two touchdowns on 53 receptions. As an added bonus, his quarterback that season was Jacoby Brissett, so he would have some familiarity with the Browns current No. 2 guy — who may be starting during a Deshaun Watson suspension.

Last year, Rogers was with the Tennessee Titans and still played well. He had 30 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown. He’s not a star player but he’s a solid option, that wouldn’t cost much at all to bring in.

2. Dede Westbrook

A fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma, Dede Westbrook was praised for his quick feet and the ability to make something happen after the catch. For the Sooners, he played both on the outside as well as in the slot, but in the NFL, he operates mostly inside due to his 6-foot-0, 178-pound frame.

Originally a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Westbrook found some success in his first four seasons. He hauled in 160 passes for 1,720 yards with nine touchdowns. He was also a weapon in the return game, scoring a touchdown as a punt returner in 2018 for the Jags.

In 2021, he joined the Minnesota Vikings and was unable to make much of an impact. He did record 183 yards on punt returns but had just 68 yards on 10 receptions.

Having said that, he did suffer a torn ACL in October of the 2020 campaign, meaning he might not have been at 100 percent for much of this past season. Considering his sure hands and the ability to do damage in the slot — a role David Bell was set to take on — it might not be a bad idea to at least kick the tires on Westbrook and see if he can offer more than the players they have battling for a spot.

1. Will Fuller

Whenever discussing players the Browns can turn to at wide receiver, Will Fuller needs to be mentioned. He was a first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2016 and instantly proved to be a deep threat.

He played well as a rookie but really started to take off once he was working with Deshaun Watson. His best campaign was in 2020 when he had 53 catches for 879 yards with eight touchdowns — all career highs. Fuller also averaged 16.6 yards per catch that season and had the longest catch of his career when he went 77 yards against the Jags, which also happened to be the sixth game in a row where he scored.

Of course, the one thing that has always held Fuller back has been his durability. He has yet to play a full season in the NFL, and hasn’t topped 11 games in a year since his rookie campaign — when he played in 14.

Last season was the worst of his career when it came to injuries, as he managed to play in just two games for the Miami Dolphins.

His inability to stay healthy is clearly the reason he’s still not signed but the Browns could do well to take a flier — especially if he’s willing to take a contract that’s based mainly on playing time incentives.

Fuller would not only be able to stretch the field as a deep threat but his rapport with Watson could be a huge benefit as well.