Class is in session once again, and this time Cleveland’s wide receivers are under the microscope. The Browns took a plethora of receivers in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the Cleveland Browns front office is famous for regularly blowing draft picks. The questions still remain: did any of the rookie receivers like Corey Coleman work out? Additionally, how did Terrelle Pryor perform in his first full season at receiver? Does Cleveland’s receiving corps have a bright or bleak future with veterans like Andrew Hawkins? Dissecting those receivers to give the corps a grade as a whole reveals information that Browns fans will love to hear.
Cleveland Browns 2016 Season Grades: Wide Receivers
Corey Coleman: B-
With the 15th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Browns took Corey Coleman from Baylor University. As Baylor’s golden boy, Coleman caught 74 balls for 1,363 yards and 20 touchdowns in his final year. Both the Browns and their fans had high expectations for Coleman, and he was…average. Coleman had 33 receptions for 413 yards and three touchdowns. But when considering the circumstances, these stats are much more impressive.
Coleman played only ten games this season due to a broken hand. Furthermore, he played those ten games with three different quarterbacks. Quarterback consistency is crucial to wide receivers, and a consistent quarterback should be a good quarterback as well. To put it bluntly, no signal caller in Cleveland’s quarterback trio was good this past year. But Coleman still managed to make the best of a bad situation during the Browns’ 1-15 season. For that, he gets a B-, but he should improve with a solid quarterback in the coming years.
Andrew Hawkins: C
Andrew Hawkins is an interesting conundrum of a wide receiver. First of all, he isn’t even trained at receiver in the first place. Hawkins grew up playing quarterback in high school but transitioned to receiver during his time at the University of Toledo. Hawkins is too small to play quarterback in the NFL, and truthfully, he’s almost too small to play receiver. At 5’7, 180, Hawkins is a speedster, yes, but he lacks the ability that 2016’s Browns quarterbacks need from receivers: playmaking.
It’s widely known that Cleveland Browns quarterbacks haven’t been that great since the team’s 1999 return. In fact, they’ve been a joke around the league. They need big, playmaking receivers. And Hawkins is neither big nor can he make big plays. Perhaps he could work better with a competent quarterback. But for now, he’ll have to settle for a C.
Terrelle Pryor: A+
Okay, wow. In simple terms, Terrelle Pryor was a lifesaver for the Cleveland Browns in 2016, as he blew many Cleveland Browns fans away with both flashy catches and sound mechanics. In only his first full season at receiver, Pryor beautifully showcased both power and finesse. Not only was Pryor the go-to receiver, but he also worked as a fail-safe option and a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for when all else failed.
Pryor made the absolute best of his awful situation with the Browns this year, and showed that he deserves a number one receiver spot in Cleveland. After all, he managed to make Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, and Cody Kessler all look pretty good this year. It’ll be amazing to see what he can do with another full season at receiver under his belt, and possibly with a more adept quarterback. With his free agency decision coming up, there’s only one thing left to do: pay the man. Terrelle Pryor was outstanding on the Cleveland Browns in 2016, and he gets an A+.
Composite Grade: B
The Cleveland Browns were a dumpster fire in 2016, but things are looking up for the receiving corps. Corey Coleman will be completely healthy next season, and Andrew Hawkins will (hopefully) have better talent around him, especially at quarterback. Additionally, Terrelle Pryor gives a massive boost to the entire group. Hopefully, secondary receivers like Rashard Higgins and Ricardo Louis can improve in 2017 to take the pressure off of Cleveland’s top three options. Overall, the wide receivers of the Cleveland Browns get a composite grade of B.
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