The Cleveland Browns have been in need of a special teams spark for years.
In the overnight hours, the team agreed to terms with a star that can provide that much-needed excitement and domination on punt and kick returns.
He is wide receiver and punt and kick returner, Jakeem Grant.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero is reporting that the deal is a three-year contract valued at up to $13.8 million.
The #Browns are signing Pro Bowl return man and WR Jakeem Grant to a three-year deal worth up to $13.8 million, per source. 💰
Grant’s deal was negotiated by agent @Murphy_McGuire of @OctagonFootball.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2022
Who Is Jakeem Grant?
The 29-year-old Grant was a sixth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft.
He played college football at Texas Tech where he was teammates with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Dolphins traded Grant to the Chicago Bears in October 2021 so he finished the season as a Bear.
Grant’s Stats
Grant has scored at least one special teams touchdown in all but one of his six seasons.
He has six touchdowns in his career, four on punt returns and two on kick returns.
Grant has also appeared in 81 games during his career as a wide receiver and has seven receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
He was named a second-team All-Pro two times in 2020 and 2021, and he made his first Pro Bowl in 2021.
Mahomes On Grant
Mahomes has kept his eye on his former teammate as both moved onto NFL careers.
JAKEEM DID IT AGAIN. 97-yard punt return TD! #DaBears
📺: #CHIvsGB on NBC
📱: https://t.co/ptqAMuLpIh pic.twitter.com/0q3SNJNZwf— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2021
After Grant’s 97-yard punt return TD against the Green Bay Packers on December 12, 2021, Mahomes tweeted:
“Go crazy then! @_TheDreamIsHere”
Go crazy then! @_TheDreamIsHere
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 13, 2021
Grant’s Twitter handle is @_TheDreamIsHere.
Cribbs Has Been Gone For A Decade
The last great Browns return specialist was Josh Cribbs who was with the team from 2005 to 2012.
In 124 career games as a Brown, Cribbs had three punt return touchdowns and eight kickoff return touchdowns.
He had over 12,100 yards gained in returns throughout his Browns career.
Hopefully, Grant carries his mojo into Cleveland and becomes the next Cribbs.
Welcome to Cleveland Jakeem Grant!
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