3 wideouts Browns should sign after Odell Beckham Jr. injury

With Odell Beckham Jr. out for the season with a torn ACL, the Browns can still find pass catchers to help fill the gap in the free agent pool.

The Cleveland Browns‘ receiving corps took a major hit on Sunday when Odell Beckham Jr. went down with a season-ending ACL tear.

How will the team cope without their star receiver?

The Browns could look inward to replace Beckham Jr.’s presence.

In fact, it was Donovan Peoples-Jones who caught the game-winning touchdown pass against the Bengals. Rashard Higgins has also put up decent numbers so far with 11 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

Even if the team likes those options, there are free agent receivers out there who could lend a helping hand.

Mohamed Sanu

The 31-year-old receiver has struggled to find a home since he was traded by the Falcons to the New England Patriots last year. He lasted eight games in New England, but they released him in September. The San Francisco 49ers picked him up shortly after. However, he was released again after three games with just one reception.

Sanu has been slowed by injury problems, so he’s not the receiver he was in 2018 when he caught 66 passes for 838 yards for the Falcons. Still, he’s not so far removed from being that guy that he couldn’t possibly return to form with a bit of time.

Demaryius Thomas

Could the Browns go after a different New England cast-off?

Demaryius Thomas was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, but trades from the Broncos to the Houston Texans then from the Patriots to the New York Jets simply didn’t work out for him over the last couple of years.

Most recently in New York, Thomas had 36 catches for 433 yards and one touchdown. The Jets opted not to resign the veteran, but he proved he can still be somewhat productive.

Chester Rogers

Chester Rogers has never been the star that Sanu or Thomas was, but he turned out to be a decent option for the Colts after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

In his best season, the former Grambling State alum had 53 catches for 485 yards and two touchdowns. Then in 2019, he suffered a season-ending knee injury and floated into free agency under the most difficult circumstances.

The Miami Dolphins took a chance signing him this summer, but they released him at the start of September. A few weeks later, the Tennessee Titans picked him up as a member of their practice squad.

Tennessee could still protect Rogers, preventing him from being signed by another team. If they don’t, he’s an option the Browns could turn to.