3 Free agent return specialists Browns can add ahead of Week 1

Jakeem Grant was supposed to be a return specialist before suffering an Achilles injury. If the Cleveland Browns still want a returner, these 3 players are available

Jakeem Grant was signed this offseason by the Cleveland Browns as they hoped to improve their return game. That should have happened considering Grant was a Pro Bowl returner in 2021, but they won’t be able to utilize him this year.

Grant suffered an Achilles injury during camp and will spend the season on IR. With him out, Demetric Felton, D’Ernest Johnson, and Anthony Schwartz could see time as returners. However, there’s also a chance the Browns could look to bring in a specialist. If so, these are some names that could make sense.

3 Free agent return specialists Browns can add

3. Pharoh Cooper

A former standout from South Carolina, Pharoh Cooper was taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was used sparingly as a receiver and kick returner as a rookie but then saw the field more on special teams in his second season.

That year, he had 1,421 all-purpose yards with 932 coming from kick returns. He averaged 27.4 yards on those returns and had a touchdown, which led to him making the Pro Bowl and earning a selection to the First-Team All-Pro.

Cooper has bounced around the league since leaving L.A, spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, and New York Giants.

He might not offer the same Pro-Bowl-worthy play he showed back in 2017 but he can still make an impact as a returner and might be worth a shot — even if it’s on the practice squad, to begin with.