The Cleveland Browns revamped the wide receiver position this offseason. They are hoping some new weapons will help Deshaun Watson get back on track after a difficult 2022 season. It was the first time Watson played in nearly two calendar years, so rust was certainly a factor in his lackluster performance, but improving the supporting cast around him certainly won’t hurt.
The Browns have Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones entrenched as their top two, but received virtually zero production from anyone behind them. So, general manager Andrew Berry set out to find players who could and he came away with a good haul.
Earlier in the offseason, he acquired Elijah Moore from the New York Jets. The 2021 second-round pick was unhappy with his role on the team and had been seeking a change of scenery since last year. In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Browns used a third-round pick on Cedric Tillman out of Tennessee.
Both players present upgrades from what the team was trotting out there last season, but there is a veteran addition to keep a close eye on as well. Free agent signing Marquise Goodwin has caught the attention of people this offseason, including Watson, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.
“When asked about Goodwin’s speed, Watson said, “It opens up other guys underneath … the run game and also the intermediate and short game.” Goodwin won’t be a primary option, but he could be an impactful one.”
Goodwin has world-class speed that can translate to big plays on the field. He has averaged 16.2 yards per reception in his career, bringing downfield playmaking that the Browns didn’t consistently have last season.
He was a standout during the team’s OTAs and minicamps earlier in June, dominating with regularity. The coaching staff, and Watson, are certainly hopeful that production translates to training camp and into the regular season as Goodwin can be a useful weapon in their passing attack.
The Browns are the fourth team in four years for Goodwin and fifth overall in his career, as he spent 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks. He caught 27 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns, mixing in behind D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
