Cleveland Browns Rumors: Brian Hoyer, Andrew Hawkins
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer (6) before the game. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer has stated throughout the offseason that he is making good progress from the ACL he tore against the Buffalo Bills, and the always-competitive Michigan State product added that he looks forward to fighting for a starting job with a rookie quarterback. The Browns are fully expected to pull their next franchise QB hopeful with one of their first three picks in the 2014 NFL Draft, though it’s anyone’s guess as to when they will make their selection (and who it will be).
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, we do know that all of Hoyer’s statements regarding his recovery and competitive fire have come true, as she reports that Hoyer took part in the Browns opening drills at minicamp today and was effusive in her praise of his performance. She wrote that his footwork “looked tremendous”, “jogged effortlessly”, displayed “good velocity”, and didn’t show anything hinting at ill-effects of the severe knee injury.
This is all great news, and it shows that the Browns QB has indeed made a quick recovery. They have themselves a great backup, who figures to be a capable stopgap starter if the Browns don’t think their young QB is ready to take the reigns. Meanwhile, the Browns are still interested in bringing in another veteran, and it will be interesting to see if anything comes out of yesterday’s workouts with Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen.
Meanwhile, ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi shared another minicamp-related observation with us regarding wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, who was poached from the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason in restricted free agency. The Browns should be expecting big things out of him after signing him to a relatively significant contract, and he did catch 51 passes in 2013. A shifty receiver, Hawkins figures to be a very good WR3 in the slot due to his agility and quickness, and Grossi confirms that Hawkins is as quick as advertised, stating that he “looks super quick” (noting earlier that he was working out on fake turf indoors, though that hardly demeans his touted quickness).