Brown Fan’s Favorite Wide Receiver Ditches Browns for Eagles
Wide Receiver Austin Watkins turned down an opportunity to get back to the Cleveland browns and on second thought will sign a reserve/future contract with the Philadelphia eagles.
The Browns had offered Watkins a contract however he found opportunity to weigh different offers, per Brad Stainbrook of theOBR.com. The 25-year-old felt like the eagles were a superior fit for his gifts and will get a new beginning there.
During the four exhibition games, Watkins led the Browns in receiving yards, making him a fan favorite in the preseason. He was the main Cleveland player with twofold digit gatherings, scoring 16 for 257 yards and a couple of scores.
The eagles knew all about Watkins. His most impressive performance of the preseason came against Philadelphia. Watkins had seven receptions and gained 139 yards.
At the conclusion of the preseason, Watkins was cut, but he was reinstated to the practice squad. He didn’t show up in that frame of mind with the browns and didn’t feel like he got a decent deal, per Noah Weiskopf of theOBR.com.
Weiskopf wrote, “While sources say Watkins likes the Browns front office, there’s a feeling that he wasn’t given a fair shot this season to showcase his abilities, especially after having the preseason that he did.”
The Browns reported the marking of nine players to hold/prospects contracts on Monday, January 15. That included recipient Jaelon Darden, cornerback Vincent Dark, running back John Kelly Jr., tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, hostile tackle Justin Murray, protective end Lonnie Phelps, linebacker Charlie Thomas III, cautious end Isaiah Thomas and guarded tackle Chris Williams.
The Browns will be looking for high-quality depth to support Amari Cooper during the upcoming season. The 29-year-old was the impetus for the Browns’ passing game, which used five unique quarterbacks this season. Notwithstanding the absence of soundness at quarterback, Cooper wrapped up with a vocation high 1,250 yards and 5 scores on 72 gets.
Elijah Moore was the Browns’ second-driving wide receiver with 640 yards on 59 snatches. He likewise had a couple of scores. The Browns, on the other hand, received very little help from the rest of the receiving depth chart outside of those two players. Rocky Cedric Tillman was next up with 21 gets for 224 yards.
With Deshaun Watson expected to return good to go next season, the Browns need to add more weapons to make their airborne game more perilous.
“I believe that is certainly [GM Andrew Berry’s] want to add however many great players as you can,” Stefanski said on January 14 during his season-finishing question and answer session. ” Yet, I feel better about the folks on our list. Not to go over every man, but I’m really happy with what these guys were able to accomplish.
The Browns must work to extend Amari Cooper’s contract.
Cooper has demonstrated that he can still be an elite No. 1 receiver however is entering the last year of his contract. Cooper’s cap hit for next season is set at $23.7 million, which at first made him an expected cut up-and-comer.
Nonetheless, the Browns need him on the roster pushing ahead, and focusing on an expansion could assist with bringing down that number. Spotrac’s determined market an earning for Cooper is 3 years and $70 million, acquiring him around $23 million for each season.
The Browns will in any case have Moore under contract for another season. His cap hit is a humble $1.8 million. The expectation is that young guns David Bell and Tillman will keep on advancing too, adding to the team’s profundity.
Michael Pittman Jr., Tee Higgins, and Calvin Ridley are three notable names that the Browns could look to sign in free agency to pair with Cooper.
