It looks like Dez Bryant will wind up in Cleveland. The Browns have interest in the veteran receiver, and he’s looking to get to work. But odd that he potentially could join a team that’s already ridiculously deep at wide receiver.
The Browns earlier in the offseason traded for Jarvis Landry, then signed him to a five-year deal worth $75 million. He’ll be a big part of their passing game.
The potential signing of Bryant is apparently a sign that the Browns may have lost some confidence in some of their other wide receivers. Otherwise this team wouldn’t really have room for Bryant.
Josh Gordon is ridiculously talented but he didn’t show up for the start of camp. He’s battled with substance abuse problems in the past and says he’s looking to make sure his head is right before he reports.
Corey Coleman was the 15th pick of the 2016 draft – the first receiver chosen – but has struggled with injuries and consistency his first two years. He’s made a handful plays (most notably going for 104 yards and 2 TDs in a game against the Ravens in 2016) but overall has caught only 56 passes for 718 yards and 5 TDs in 19 games as a pro.
In an article at Ohio.com, Coleman indicates he’s in better shape after Landry talked him into modifying his diet. “You can’t go around eating french fries and chicken fingers and steak all the time,” Landry said. “I know it sounds good, but in this league, we want to have a healthy diet. It allows us to play better, feel better, have our body feeling better, get the things in you that you need to come out here and perform.”
The Browns also used a fourth-round pick on Antonio Callaway, who was plagued by a host of off-field problems at Florida. The article says GM John Dorsey consider Callaway to be a first-round talent. But again, if Bryant is going to come in and start, how will all of these other wide receivers even get on the field?
Of course, the Browns have only expressed interest in Bryant. Once they bring him in for a look, they may decide against signing him. And if and when he shows up at Berea, he’ll have to show some ability to get open and catch balls. That hasn’t happened in recent years in Dallas.
In Bryant’s last three years at Dallas, it seemed like he’d lost some speed. Various reports also suggest he isn’t a great student of the game – he might not be working hard enough.
Over the last three years, 41 wide receivers have caught at least 150 passes. Bryant is one of only three in that group who’s averaged under 7 yards per pass play. He’s also the only one of the 41 who hasn’t caught over half of the balls thrown his way.
Best to let somebody else take a late-round flyer on Bryant.
| YARDS PER TARGET (2015-17) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tgt | Rec | Pct | Yards | TD | Avg/Tgt |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 480 | 307 | 64.0% | 4,724 | 17 | 9.84 |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 252 | 172 | 68.3% | 2,387 | 9 | 9.47 |
| Brandin Cooks, tms | 360 | 227 | 63.1% | 3,393 | 24 | 9.43 |
| Rishard Matthews, tms | 256 | 161 | 62.9% | 2,402 | 17 | 9.38 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 344 | 247 | 71.8% | 3,188 | 29 | 9.27 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 510 | 343 | 67.3% | 4,651 | 31 | 9.12 |
| Marvin Jones, tms | 313 | 181 | 57.8% | 2,847 | 17 | 9.10 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 375 | 227 | 60.5% | 3,339 | 22 | 8.90 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 398 | 217 | 54.5% | 3,538 | 15 | 8.89 |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 270 | 196 | 72.6% | 2,382 | 14 | 8.82 |
| Ted Ginn, tms | 262 | 151 | 57.6% | 2,278 | 18 | 8.69 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 255 | 175 | 68.6% | 2,181 | 10 | 8.55 |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 291 | 200 | 68.7% | 2,472 | 15 | 8.49 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 368 | 222 | 60.3% | 3,119 | 26 | 8.48 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 358 | 203 | 56.7% | 2,903 | 18 | 8.11 |
| Robert Woods, tms | 241 | 154 | 63.9% | 1,946 | 9 | 8.07 |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 280 | 192 | 68.6% | 2,240 | 12 | 8.00 |
| Mike Wallace, tms | 280 | 163 | 58.2% | 2,238 | 10 | 7.99 |
| Pierre Garcon, tms | 292 | 191 | 65.4% | 2,318 | 9 | 7.94 |
| Alshon Jeffery, tms | 308 | 163 | 52.9% | 2,417 | 15 | 7.85 |
| Mohamed Sanu, tms | 226 | 159 | 70.4% | 1,750 | 9 | 7.74 |
| Jermaine Kearse, tms | 259 | 155 | 59.8% | 2,005 | 11 | 7.74 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 457 | 241 | 52.7% | 3,528 | 20 | 7.72 |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 303 | 154 | 50.8% | 2,300 | 20 | 7.59 |
| Jeremy Maclin, tms | 272 | 171 | 62.9% | 2,064 | 13 | 7.59 |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 383 | 273 | 71.3% | 2,893 | 15 | 7.55 |
| Jordan Matthews, tms | 279 | 183 | 65.6% | 2,083 | 12 | 7.47 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 365 | 202 | 55.3% | 2,722 | 13 | 7.46 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 517 | 285 | 55.1% | 3,853 | 28 | 7.45 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 456 | 325 | 71.3% | 3,394 | 21 | 7.44 |
| Brandon Marshall, tms | 334 | 186 | 55.7% | 2,444 | 17 | 7.32 |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 247 | 159 | 64.4% | 1,798 | 10 | 7.28 |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 240 | 150 | 62.5% | 1,739 | 20 | 7.25 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 461 | 278 | 60.3% | 3,336 | 16 | 7.24 |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 458 | 316 | 69.0% | 3,280 | 17 | 7.16 |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 236 | 163 | 69.1% | 1,683 | 14 | 7.13 |
| Brandon LaFell, tms | 270 | 153 | 56.7% | 1,925 | 9 | 7.13 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 332 | 199 | 59.9% | 2,365 | 23 | 7.12 |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 305 | 205 | 67.2% | 2,092 | 14 | 6.86 |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 300 | 150 | 50.0% | 2,035 | 17 | 6.78 |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 392 | 232 | 59.2% | 2,543 | 25 | 6.49 |
—Ian Allan