The Cleveland Browns have a lot of questions at the wide receiver position and the team has to use this year to find out if they have answers.
Many of the wide receivers on the Cleveland Browns in 2017 will be the same as 2016, but the dynamic looks to be different. Much of the focus will understandably be on the move from Terrelle Pryor to Kenny Britt as well as Corey Coleman living up to his draft slotting, but the position as a whole is going to be a little different.
With the move to put focus on the tight end position in this offense, the method of attacking opponents changes a little bit. Last year, Gary Barnidge was the only tight end that consistently threatened opponents and he was more receiver than tight end while Pryor led the team in every receiving category.
This year, with Seth DeValve and then the rookie David Njoku, the workload is going to be spread out more. With Pryor gone, the top receiver is up for grabs. The Browns hope Corey Coleman can take that bull by the horns, but Britt may figure into that role and the production could be far more spread out this year.
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If the Browns run a lot of multiple tight end sets as it appears they will, they could create opportunities for Coleman and Britt. Having tight ends that size that can run that well can be stressful for a defense and potentially require than a single defender to contain. That may create seams for Coleman or Britt to exploit and more space on the field, so they can run a little more.
Britt stands out as the ‘safe’ option to be the No. 1 receiver and he is a talented player, but so much of that is because every other option in the passing game is completely unproven. It should be both fun and a little frustrating to see these young players continue to grow, learn and evolve.
It’s imperative they find out what these young players can do, especially in year two, so they can figure out if it is an area they need to attack in the upcoming offseason. Receivers often take about three years to develop, but this year should give a clear indication of the direction they are headed and if the light is flickering or not. With so many spots up for grabs, it’s a huge opportunity.