Cleveland Browns' WR Woes

As the Cleveland Browns completed their mandatory mini-camp and Donte Stallworth blanketed the press reports with his off-the-field issues, I searched for a reason to be opportunistic about the Browns receiving corp as it now stands.

Mangini and Co. are rebuilding and while there are many new faces, there are also many questionable areas on the team.

The receivers appear to be weak area with a ton of unanswered questions. I think the Browns need to make a move and Brandon Marshall (DEN) might be the direction we need to go. Brandon Marshall (DEN) wants to be traded and the rumor of the Browns trading a second and Cribbs to secure him seems to make sense.

I know Cribbs has a huge popularity base in Cleveland, but I think you need to look at not only now but what will our makeup be 2-3 years down the road. Here's what I see:

In two years as a starter, Marshall (age 25) has 206 receptions (over 100 each year) 2,590 yds receiving, 13 TD's, and 12.6 yds per catch. He possesses speed, size, and durability having missed only one game in two years (suspension).

In comparison, Edwards (age 26) has 135 receptions, 2,162 yds receiving, 19 TD's, and 16.0 yds per catch in the same span. He's led the NFL in drops each of the last two years and has never had a 100-catch season.

The Cleveland Browns have only had seven players ever go over 1,000 yards receiving in a season with Edwards being the latest in 2007. However, the Cleveland Browns have never had a player catch 100 passes in a single season. Kellen Winslow (2006) and Ozzie Newsom (1983 and 1984) hold the record which currently stands at 89 receptions in a single season. 

If you add up all the statistics from the other 11 players competing for the WR position on the roster this year (Cribbs, Ellis, Furrey, Hubbard, Leggett, Massaquoi, Norwood, Patten, Robiskie, Stallworth, and Steptoe), those 11 cannot equal Marshall's output over the last two years.

Here's some things to consider regarding Marshall:

1) He's an established receiver who is only 25 and is already more productive than any WR we have on our roster including Edwards.

2) He posted these numbers on a team that not only ran the ball more often than the Browns over the last two years, they produced more rushing yards, thus limiting his chances.

3) With Edwards in the final year of his deal, Marshall would bring No. 1 WR credentials to the team. Who do the Browns have that is either pushing Edwards for the position or ready to replace him?

4) Of the 12 WR's currently on our roster, five of them (Hubbard, Leggett, Massaquoi, Norwood, and Robiskie) or 42 percent have never caught a pass in the NFL at what many consider as the second hardest position to learn less QB.

5) Three of the other seven (Cribbs, Ellis, and Steptoe) have caught less than 20 passes each over the last two years. In fact, except for Steptoe, the other two have caught less than six passes in two years.

6) Two of the remaining four, (Patten and Furrey) are over the age of 32.

7) Finally, of the last two (Edwards and Stallworth), one is suspended indefinitely and the other is in the final year of his rookie contract.

I don't know if Marshall would be a good fit for the Browns or not, but if you look at our receiving corps, he brings intangibles to the table we do not have and is clearly a  No. 1 WR whether in Cleveland or somewhere else.

Trading for a No. 1 WR in exchange for a special team player is a good deal, but hypothetical at this point.