Injury to Michael Woods II Intensifies Ongoing Conversation Around Browns Wide Receivers
With the unfortunate news that second-year wide receiver Michael Woods II has suffered a ruptured Achilles' while training with Deshaun Watson in Texas, it opens up some possibilities for the Cleveland Browns at the wide receiver position. Possibilities that existed even if Woods was healthy, this disappointing turn of events does make them feel decidedly more likely.
The Browns were impressed with what they saw from the 2022 sixth-round pick early in camp before he suffered a hamstring injury. And despite the additions the team has made to the position this offseason, including a trade for Elijah Moore and at least an agreement with free agent Marquise Goodwin, there was reason to believe Woods might be able to earn a spot on the final roster.
What stood out about Woods coming out of college was his strength down the field. He was effective using his body to create separation to make plays on the ball. He also flashed strong hands at the catch point. Woods was able to contribute on special teams, which becomes increasingly important in filling that roster spot.
If there's any positive to take away from this for Woods, it's that the timing of the injury gives him 17 months to effectively recover, which hopefully gives him time to be at his best in attempting to make the team next year.
As it currently stands, the four receivers that appear to be locks to make this roster include Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore and David Bell, the other drafted receiver from 2022, drafted in the third round. The final two spots are up for grabs and Woods was training with Watson to try to put himself in the best position to compete for one of them. While DPJ has returned punts, only Bell had a regular role on special teams. It stands to reason that unless the Browns plan to activate someone from their practice squad every week, one of the remaining spots will have a major role in that aspect of the game.
Along with Moore, the Browns have a diminutive options at the position. Goodwin, who has yet to officially sign, Jakeem Grant Sr., coming off an Achilles' injury of his own, Anthony Schwartz, Jaelon Darden, Marquez Stevenson, Demetric Felton and Mike Harley Jr. all fit into this category. Of those, five of those have excellent speed and four hope to make the roster based on their potential ability to stretch the field.
Perhaps this injury does open the door for a player like Darden, who is effectively a scratch off lottery ticket. A former fourth-round pick with excellent athletic traits that was claimed from waivers at the end of last season. With a new team, he may have a new lease on life and could showcase more of what made an intriguing option coming out of North Texas.
There's a line of people waiting to bury Schwartz with plenty already heaving shovelfuls of dirt at him after two years and he's likely on the outside looking in as things currently sit. However, Schwartz might be the best special teams player of this group in addition to whatever he can accomplish as a wide receiver.
Even though the Browns have ton of undersized receivers with speed, the vast majority of them won't be on the team, so it doesn't stop the Browns from potentially drafting another one if they love the player. And this is a draft class that features a number of light weight sprinters including Norton High School's own Tyler Scott by way of Cincinnati, his teammate Tre Tucker and Marvin Mims out of Oklahoma. Trey Palmer is another sprinter, but he's got a little more heft, running a 4.33 40 at 192 pounds.
Even though he wasn't great sprinting the 40, Tank Dell's outstanding 1.49 10-yard split and style of play on the field warrant attention. The Houston Cougar may not be someone that is necessarily going to be a straight-line deep threat, but he's a difficult cover who is a nightmare with the ball in his hands. The concern with him is the fact he weighs a mere 165 pounds.
If Goodwin makes the final roster, he's a short term answer and the Browns may want to hand that job off to a longer term solution in a similar mold.
The Browns crave speed and have not been shy about it, but they love size too. Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones are big receivers with speed. They aren't running in the 4.3s but they are a lot to deal with because they are often bigger than the defenders covering them. David Bell doesn't have a great speed, but those three are all at least 210 pounds. The Browns also have Daylen Baldwin and Isaiah Weston who are bigger bodies.
If the Browns are still craving speed and there's no reason to believe that has changed, but like the idea of getting another big body who can challenge the opponent deep from the slot, Jonathan Mingo out of Ole Miss could be right up their alley. The Browns have been a fan of players out of Lane Kiffin's offenses, drafting tight end Harrison Bryant and then trading for Moore. The Browns might love what Mingo could offer them.
Mingo might be slightly limited in the route tree he can run currently. He's not great at running comebacks, routes that ask him to make dramatic changes of direction for example. However, he's great running routes into the middle of the field like slants and digs using his body to shield opponents from the ball. That's in addition to his ability to press vertically. At 6'2" 220 pounds, Mingo ran a 4.46 with a 1.54 10-yard split at the combine. He can put stress on a deep safety responsible for him, potentially putting them in conflict, creating space for his teammates.
As good as Mingo can be when he's getting the ball, the way he was utilized in the Ole Miss offense could give an NFL team added flexibility. While he might be at his best operating from the slot, he can operate out wide and Ole Miss often utilized him as a wing. Mingo was an effective blocker, occasionally tasked with blocking much bigger defenders.
That's not something he needs to be doing necessarily in the NFL, but potentially being able to line up at wing to help with the run or chipping a pass rusher and slipping out into a route could be valuable. If he gets the ball with room to run, he can eat up chunks of yardage. Mingo might be a player who shines operating out of condensed formations, something Kevin Stefanski has often utilized in his time as Browns head coach.
The other big bodied receiver with elite physical traits the Browns could take is Bryce Ford-Wheaton out of West Virginia. Ford is built like former Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, but needs a ton of development. A man amongst boys in college, he rarely played like it. But for a team that might not need him for a year, perhaps even two, the Browns could theoretically stash him away and see if he can reach his potential. If it works, he could be the Browns answer to life after Amari Cooper.
Michael Woods wasn't guaranteed anything this year, one of the reasons he was working out with Deshaun Watson to prepare for this season. The Browns weren't going to pass on a receiver they loved in this draft class. And yet this news still feels as if it opens up possibilities, even if only from a perception standpoint.
