The Cleveland Browns wide receiver unit is considered one of the best in the league but it’s not because of tremendous depth.
After Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, the Browns have a cast of characters that could impact the 2020 season, or just as likely, not make the final roster.
Let’s explore this final tier of receivers fighting for a job this summer in Berea.
Damion Ratley
2019 Season: 12 receptions / 200 receiving yards / 1 receiving TD
Best Season: (2019)
2020 ESPN Projection: 6 receptions / 82 receiving yards / 1 receiving TD
Madden Rating: 69
Baker Mayfield to Damion Ratley for a 46-yard TD
(via @Browns)pic.twitter.com/oYpTmzn1Xs
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 29, 2019
Damion Ratley‘s 200 receiving yards in 2019 was actually third among Cleveland receivers.
This is more of an indictment on the large target share handed out to Beckham and Landry and less of an indication of Ratley’s skillset.
But it’s clear Baker Mayfield trusts Ratley to make plays.
The same cannot be categorically said for the other receivers in this tier.
Donovon Peoples-Jones
2019 Season: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – 34 receptions / 438 receiving yards / 6 receiving TD
Best Season: (2018 – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN) 47 receptions / 612 receiving yards / 8 receiving TD
2020 ESPN Projection: 3 receptions / 38 receiving yards / 0 receiving TD
Madden Rating: 66
Donovon Peoples-Jones is a splashy sixth-round pick for the Browns out of Michigan.
He made a name for himself with a huge 2018 season for the Wolverines.
DONOVAN PEOPLES-JONES
79-YARDS TO THE 🏡
(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/hi5M7jxZEl
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 20, 2018
Peoples-Jones scored 9 touchdowns in 13 games.
He was on the fast track to the NFL.
But he stalled in Jim Harbaugh’s offense last season and slipped to the 6th round, where the Browns scooped him up.
Peoples-Jones is best out of the slot, a position Jarvis Landry owns for the Browns.
But more importantly, he’s a good returner and is expected to make the team and possibly return punts beginning in Week One.
JoJo Natson (Special Teams)
2019 Season: 13 kick returns (22.2 yards per return) and 19 punt returns for Los Angeles Rams (7.8 yards per return)
Best Season: (2019)
2020 ESPN Projection: none
Madden Rating: 59
The #Browns are signing WR and returner JoJo Natson to a 1-year, $1M deal, source said. He spent the last two years with the #Rams.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
JoJo Natson has two catches in three NFL seasons.
But he could make the Browns as a return man.
It’s a role he served for 12 games in 2019 for the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s very possible Natson is in a one-on-one battle with Peoples-Jones for a roster spot.
Khadarel Hodge (Special Teams)
2019 Season: 4 receptions / 76 receiving yards / 0 receiving TD
Best Season: (2019)
2020 ESPN Projection: none
Madden Rating: 66
Khardel Hodge appeared in all 16 games for the Browns last season.
The majority of those were for special teams purposes.
If the Browns trusted him that much last season, there’s no reason to think they wouldn’t again in 2020.
Taywan Taylor
2019 Season: 0 receptions / 0 receiving yards / 0 receiving TD
Best Season: (2018) 37 receptions / 466 receiving yards / 1 receiving TD
2020 ESPN Projection: (none)
Madden Rating: 72
Taywan Taylor actually had two nice seasons for the Tennessee Titans before an injury-filled 2019.
Taylor was a third-round pick out of Western Kentucky in 2017.
He hauled in 53 passes in two seasons in Tennessee.
But with the Browns begging for big plays last season, Taylor hardly saw the field.
He received just one target and is considered a fringe wide receiver candidate.
J’Mon Moore
2019 Season: 0 receptions / 0 receiving yards / 0 receiving TD
Best Season: none
2020 ESPN Projection: none
Madden Rating: 66
J’Mon Moore was fourth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2018.
Moore posted back-to-back 1,000+ receiving yard seasons at Missouri in 2016 and 2017 but could not get on the field for the Packers.
But we know the potential is there.
Like the rest of this group, Moore has the tools to make a difference.
Also like the rest of this group, it wouldn’t be surprising if he didn’t make the team.
And that’s a wrap on the Browns wide receivers heading into training camp.
