Help Wanted, Jobs for Hire: Browns Receiving Corps Need Improvement

Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert's tenure running the Browns has been successful by all means.

They improved the team drastically with veteran additions, while also putting the team in a position for even more improvement with 10 picks, including five in the first three rounds, in this month's NFL Draft.

But one area they have not addressed, and quite frankly an area they need to, is the wide receiver position.

The Browns' anemic offense did pick up towards the end of the season, but the four-game winning streak was sparked by a power running game and an effective no-huddle.

The passing attack did little to garner any intrigue or promise for this season, and with both quarterbacks from last year gone and two veterans in Seneca Wallace and Jake Delhomme in, the personnel needs to be revamped.

The current corps of receivers does little to show that the passing game can be effective next year and shows glaring deficiencies that need to be addressed.

Mohamed Massaquoi is a promising young player and showed last year the potential to be a solid number 2 receiver on the outside. Massaquoi was the Browns' number 1 target last season, collecting 34 catches for 624 yards and three touchdowns.

That's where the problem is: Massaquoi as a number 1 receiver. A solid player with potential to be very good, he needs help, notably a veteran on the outside to serve as a number 1 target.

Brian Robiskie was another second-round pick the Browns used at receiver, but he was disappointing last season, collecting just seven catches in limited action.

Robiskie is a smooth, solid route runner and very polished with good size (6'3") and drastic improvement would do wonders to help the passing game and the offense in general.

Chansi Stuckey was acquired from the Jets in the Braylon Edwards deal, and while he has potential as a speedy third wideout, his case of the dropsies hampered his production and he showed little promise last season.

Joshua Cribbs, while listed as a receiver, has so much impact on this team as much more than that, serving as a special teams Swiss-army knife and a solid running option out of the Wildcat formation.

The signing of Ben Watson, combined with the emerging Evan Moore, gives the Browns two viable pass catching targets from the tight end position, but there still remains a glaring need at receiver.

Tight ends are great short to 10-yard targets but they can't be the featured weapon in the passing game.

Which leaves us to the question of adding talent to the receiving corps. The Browns need either a stabilizing veteran or a promising rookie or two, preferably both. Let's explore some of the options that can add talent to the receiving corps:

Torry Holt, 33, UFA

Sure, this isn't the Torry Holt who was one of the top five receivers in the game as he was during the Greatest Show on Turf days, but he's still a stabilizing veteran presence who brings solid production as a possession-type receiver.

And quite frankly, he's a better option than anybody currently on the Browns roster.

Laveranues Coles, 32, UFA

Coles never lived up to the high expectations placed on him after signing with the Bengals. However, he would bring similar attributes to Holt as a stabilizing veteran.

Coles is still a dangerous deep threat who could thrive on third downs. Again, better than most of what the Browns currently have.

Carlton Mitchell, South Florida (draft)

The Browns possess two second-round picks and three third-rounders which gives plenty of chances to select the fast emerging speedster.

Mitchell went under the radar this season but has opened eyes with his workouts, posting a dazzling 4.42 40 time for his size (6'4"). Mitchell would be a developmental player who could contribute right away.