Browns: Cleveland brings back fan favorite for Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns retained a key piece in the receiving corps last season, and it will make Baker Mayfield very happy.

The Cleveland Browns‘ playoff chances appeared to take a hit early last season after receiver Odell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL. But the receiving corps stepped up in a huge way, resulting in the Browns making the playoffs for the first time in 2002 and pulling off their first playoff win since 1994. At the start of the new league year, the Browns ensured their depth chart would remain intact.

According to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, the Browns are re-signing Rashard Higgins to a one-year, $2.38 million contract. The deal is fully guaranteed.

Browns: Fan favorite Rashard Higgins returns to Cleveland on one-year contract

Higgins first joined Cleveland back in 2016 as a fifth-round draft pick out of Colorado State. Prior to his great 2020 season, he really showed out in 2018. That just so happens to be the debut season for quarterback Baker Mayfield, where Higgins tallied 572 yards and four touchdowns.

After a down 2019 campaign, Higgins re-upped with the Browns, and it paid dividends. With their star receiver down, Higgins stepped up when inserted into the starting lineup.

In 13 regular-season games this past season, Higgins caught 37-of-52 targets for 599 yards and four touchdowns.

The Browns may have secured their first playoff victory in nearly three decades, but their run ended in the AFC Divisional Round in their narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. With Higgins back in the fold, the Browns will look to make the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history this upcoming season.