Browns Select WR Donovan Peoples-Jones With No. 187 Pick in NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns picked Michigan WR Donovan Peoples-Jones at No. 187 overall the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Cleveland Browns selected WR Donovan Peoples-Jones with the 187th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Born and raised in the Motor City, Peoples-Jones attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. He gained a top receiver ranking after hauling in 69 passes for 1,168 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. While Alabama, Clemson and Florida all showed interest, Peoples-Jones left the Technicians after his junior year and committed to the Michigan Wolverines.

During three seasons with the Wolverines, Peoples-Jones caught 103 passes for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he set career highs with 47 receptions for 612 yards and eight touchdowns. During his final season, he caught 33 passes for 443 yards and six scores. Peoples-Jones was a punt returner all three seasons with an 8.3-yard average and two scores.

Peoples-Jones measures well, at 6-foot-1 5/8 and 212 pounds, but he’s bigger than that with 33 1/2-inch arms and enormous 10 1/8-inch hands. His 4.48 time in the 40-yard dash was quick, though not half as impressive as his 44.5-inch vertical leap during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He has a nice skill set for his position coach to harness at the NFL level.

His special-teams acumen should buy him some extra playing time in the NFL. “Special teams is a big topic,” he said. “Special teams is something that I played in every game at Michigan along with wide receiver. So, I'm definitely open to special teams. I love returning punts. I love being there for my team in any way that I can.”

2019 stats (Junior; Michigan): 438 receiving yards, 6 TD, 173 punt return yards (11 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Michigan): 612 receiving yards, 8 TD, 250 punt return yards, 1 TD (13 games)

2017 stats (Freshman; Michigan): 277 receiving yards, 320 punt return yards, 1 TD (13 games)

Cleveland Browns stats to know

• Baker Mayfield allowed the second-most interceptions (21) in the league while failing to gain his expected momentum in completion rate (59.4 – 68.5 percent in his college career).
• Nick Chubb slipped to second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,494) in 2019 after coming up short in Week 16 (15/45) and Week 17 (13/41). He led the RB position in runs over 20 yards (11).
• Last year Odell Beckham scored a career-low 12.69 fantasy points per game, which ranked 25th on the NFL. His catch rate (55.6) is well below his rookie season (70.0) while ranking at the bottom of his career average.
• The Browns’ TEs finished 30th in catches (41) and 26th in receiving yards (497), but they did score eight touchdowns (5th).
• Cleveland’s defense gave up the third-most rushing yards (2,318) with runners gaining 5.00 yards per carry (30th). 

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