Donovan Peoples-Jones has earned an extension with the Browns this offseason
Andrew Berry was once dubbed a “genius” by many Cleveland Browns fans because of who he has drafted and brought in during free agency.
While there are some questions that need to be asked in regard to all of the drafting and free agent decisions — more on that will come at a later time — one player that he drafted late that has blossomed into a good NFL wide receiver is Donovan Peoples-Jones.
DPJ was drafted by Cleveland in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan. He had a solid collegiate career, but it wasn’t eye-popping nor was it a career that propelled him up the draft boards. He finished his time at Michigan with 103 catches, 1,327 yards, and 14 touchdowns. He also had two punt returns for touchdowns.
Berry drafted DPJ as he fit inside the age guardrails that the Cleveland GM likes to use when selecting talent. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, he isn’t the biggest guy, but one who will compete every single play.
In his first two seasons in brown and orange, he found chemistry with now-former quarterback Baker Mayfield. In DPJ’s rookie season, he caught just 14 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. A year later in his sophomore campaign, he hauled in 34 passes for 597 yards, and three scores.
Now, in 2022, DPJ has proven that he has earned an extension in the upcoming offseason. Hauling in passes mostly from Jacoby Brissett, and over the past three weeks, Deshaun Watson, DPJ continues his third-year breakout.
He has a career-high 57 receptions and yards with 782, to go with two touchdowns. He also has shown he can be a contributor in the punt return game as he dashed 76 yards to the house two weeks ago against the Texans.
This past week, he and Watson hooked up for a touchdown for the first time on a three-yard play that happened to be the only touchdown scored in the entire game. The two should gain even more chemistry over the final three weeks and in the offseason.
Coming into the year, many proclaimed DPJ to be the No. 2 WR on the depth chart opposite of Amari Cooper and he has proven every one of those notions correct.
From the perspective of the Browns, it would be smart to ink Peoples-Jones to an extension in the offseason to ensure he’s around for the foreseeable future at a cheaper rate.
As for the third-year wideout, he could really cash in on a massive payday in the 2024 offseason if he is able to put up 1,000 yards (possibly for the second year in a row) with a full season of Watson slinging him the rock.
Regardless of when the time actually is, Donovan Peoples-Jones has earned himself an extension through nearly three full seasons with the Browns. Pay the man.
