The Browns are going to pay Jarvis Landry. The two sides have agreed to a five-year deal worth $75 million. Previously, he was sitting on a one-year deal after signing Miami’s franchise tender.
On the one hand, it seems like a lot – an average of $15 million per year. But at the same time, Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson both signed contracts in that range, and Landry has been a lot more productive than those guys recently. Over the last four years, he’s one of only three wide receivers with 400 catches.
Landry works out of the slot, so not a lot of big plays downfield. He tends to average around 10 yards per catch (he was down at 8.8 last year). But it’s nice to have someone with good hands, field sense and the toughness to work the middle of the middle.
The Browns also have Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman, and those guys should work more of the downfield routes. They’re also trying to bring along their young tight end, David Njoku. Out of the backfield, they’ve got one of the better pass-catching running backs (Duke Johnson).
Whatever quarterback the Browns select will have plenty of capable pass catchers to work with. (Though said player might not start that many games this year – Cleveland also has Tyrod Taylor, who’s had some success as an NFL starter.)
Landry also potentially could be a good contributor around the end zone. Typically when teams are at the goal line, we tend to think of large receivers and trying to lob in fade routes. But those kind of passes are hard to connect on – both the quarterback and the pass catcher need to have them timed properly, and the throw must be accurate. So you actually tend to see smaller receivers having more success getting open in the middle of the field.
Over the last two years, Landry has run a lot of crossing routes when Miami was inside the 10-yard line, catching 17 of the 20 passes thrown his way. That’s 85 percent – tops among all players with at least 12 targets in that part of the field.
Chart below includes not only regular stats but also 2-point conversions (which technically aren’t actually considered plays). I have combined the touchdowns and 2-point conversions into one column. (With Landry, for example, he caught 12 scores – 11 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.)
| CATCH RATES INSIDE 10 (2016-17) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | Com | Pct | TD |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 20 | 17 | 85% | 11+1 |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 24 | 18 | 75% | 14 |
| Mohamed Sanu, Atl. | 17 | 12 | 71% | 8+1 |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 20 | 14 | 70% | 11 |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O.-N.E. | 13 | 9 | 69% | 5+1 |
| Sterling Shepard, NYG | 13 | 9 | 69% | 4 |
| Kyle Rudolph, Minn. | 22 | 14 | 64% | 8 |
| Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 13 | 8 | 62% | 3+1 |
| Cameron Brate, T.B. | 13 | 8 | 62% | 7 |
| Jack Doyle, Ind. | 13 | 8 | 62% | 6 |
| Seth Roberts, Oak. | 12 | 7 | 58% | 3+2 |
| Justin Hardy, Atl. | 12 | 7 | 58% | 7 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 19 | 11 | 58% | 8+1 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 14 | 8 | 57% | 5+1 |
| Brandon LaFell, Cin. | 14 | 8 | 57% | 5 |
| Zach Ertz, Phil. | 14 | 8 | 57% | 7 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi.-Phil. | 16 | 9 | 56% | 6+3 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 16 | 9 | 56% | 5 |
| Hunter Henry, LAC | 18 | 10 | 56% | 8 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 13 | 7 | 54% | 2+1 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 19 | 10 | 53% | 4+1 |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 23 | 12 | 52% | 9+3 |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 12 | 6 | 50% | 4+1 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 12 | 6 | 50% | 5 |
| Jimmy Graham, Sea. | 21 | 10 | 48% | 9+1 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 17 | 8 | 47% | 8 |
| Jesse James, Pitt. | 17 | 8 | 47% | 6 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 15 | 7 | 47% | 4 |
| Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 13 | 6 | 46% | 4+1 |
| Chris Hogan, N.E. | 13 | 6 | 46% | 3 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 22 | 10 | 45% | 7+3 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 22 | 10 | 45% | 8+1 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 22 | 10 | 45% | 6+1 |
| Antonio Gates, LAC | 19 | 8 | 42% | 8 |
| Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 12 | 5 | 42% | 5 |
| Delanie Walker, Tenn. | 15 | 6 | 40% | 6 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 18 | 7 | 39% | 3 |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 17 | 6 | 35% | 5 |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 12 | 4 | 33% | 2 |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 19 | 6 | 32% | 5 |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 13 | 4 | 31% | 3 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 18 | 5 | 28% | 3+2 |
| Jermaine Kearse, Sea.-NYJ | 14 | 2 | 14% | 2 |
—Ian Allan