The Browns made a move a few days ago, during this slow time of the NFL calendar. I am eager to find out whether the team has made the correct decision, but for the time being it’s at least a good talking point. Let’s break down the recent transaction for the orange and brown.
It was a bit of a surprise to see the Cleveland Browns acquire the former Ohio State quarterback to their roster. Fortunately, the team made it known that the athlete will get a crack to make their 2015 roster as a wide receiver – not a quarterback. This is a good thing for two reasons: Pryor has not shown reliability under center during his professional career (especially when throwing the ball) and he could possibly bring something to a unit that could use a huge target.
It will be a long shot to see Pryor join and stick with the orange and brown this fall. He is still in his infancy in learning the position of wide receiver, but his size and speed will be to his advantage this training camp. Obviously, it will come down to the mental aspect and how quickly he is able to pick up the intricacies that come with route running, beating defenders, blocking, and everything else that accompanies the position.
On the positive side, perhaps Pryor could learn from his college teammate (in Brian Hartline) and Dwayne Bowe in training camp. This duo could speed up his development process, something much needed. Being the polar opposite of Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel stature-wise is not a bad thing either. That pair should excel in the slot and used primarily as burners between the tackles. Pryor, given an opportunity, might carve out a Travis Benjamin role – mostly fade routes on the outside and quick catch-and-runs. Just two years ago, the former Oakland Raider learned under offensive coordinator John DeFilippo – whom we all know is with the Browns. Much like Josh McCown, perhaps his past relationship with the coach can ease the transition into this offense.
Conclusion: I am not very optimistic, but maybe Terrelle Pryor can make this squad as the sixth wide receiver. I am already counting on the services of Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Taylor Gabriel, Andrew Hawkins, and Vincent Mayle. A wildcard (Rodney Smith, Travis Benjamin, etc.) could make this a tough task. However, should the former Buckeye learn his role and execute at a high level, which might take time, the Browns would appear to be very sage in their recent pickup.