Fansided

10 NFL rookies who improved their stock in Week 1 of preseason

By Ian Wharton

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to the start of an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 09: Michael Gallup #13 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up prior to the start of an NFL preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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BEREA, OH – JULY 28: Wide receiver Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs a route against defensive back Denzel Ward #21 during a training camp practice on July 28, 2018 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH – JULY 28: Wide receiver Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns runs a route against defensive back Denzel Ward #21 during a training camp practice on July 28, 2018 at the Cleveland Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

2. Antonio Callaway, WR, Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have continued to create drama for themselves all off-season long but there was finally positive buzz after a game due to their impressive play against the New York Giants. Rookie wide receiver Antonio Callaway has always been supremely talented, and his three receptions for 87 yards and one 54-yard touchdown highlighted that. He’s momentarily separated himself as the team’s No. 2 receiver.

For the first time in his career, his projected playing time is somewhat out of his hands. If Josh Gordon returns and if the team adds veteran Dez Bryant as a free-agent signing, then he’ll slip to being fourth on the depth chart, and that’s not accounting for the targets that Duke Johnson and David Njoku will get. His rookie season could go from promising to a redshirt year if the Browns continue to go all-in to win with veterans instead of developing a dynamic in-house talent.

It would be a mistake to bring in Bryant unless there’s uncertainty with Gordon’s future. Callaway showed tremendous breakaway speed and fluidity in his debut, and Bryant has appeared old, broken down, and inefficient for the last two seasons. General manager John Dorsey would be wise to stick with his initial investment into Callaway and allow him to grow organically with this offense.