There is a certain level of optimism surrounding the offense of the Cleveland Browns in 2023. A regular offseason and full season with Deshaun Watson at quarterback should provide an opportunity for the team to achieve offensive heights they have not seen. Also helping matters is the skill position additions on the offensive side of the ball. While that should lead to better team results, it could negatively impact the production of one player in particular. That player being Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Donovan Peoples-Jones had the best season of his three-year career in 2022 with 61 receptions for 839 yards and three touchdowns. While this was an encouraging uptick in production, it seemed to be more about circumstance rather than actual ability. This was mentioned by Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine as a reason why the fourth-year receiver could disappoint.
The truth is that DPJ saw 96 targets because the next receiver in line was rookie David Bell. Anthony Schwartz never amounted to anything more than a guy with a really fast 40 time and the Browns relied on David Njoku to be the de facto second receiver.
The additions of two receivers were also mentioned as reasons why Donovan Peoples-Jones may not repeat his 2022 performance.
The Browns traded for Elijah Moore who figures to command targets out of the slot and gives them a high-upside YAC specialist. They drafted Cedric Tillman in the third round. The 6’3″, 213-pounder has prototypical wide receiver size and better draft pedigree than Peoples-Jones.
While a third-round draft pedigree should not have a large amount of importance placed upon it for a rookie, the presence of Elijah Moore should be the focus here. Moore will be playing a very important role that was absent for the Browns last season. That being someone capable of accumulating yards after the catch. Cedric Tillman should figure into the mix at eventually, but not immediately.
This is about realizing the type of receiver that Donovan Peoples-Jones is. In an ideal situation Peoples-Jones would be a perfectly capable tertiary option. There are just certain aspects of his game that ultimately limit his ceiling as a player. The Browns went out and added additional receivers to make up for those shortcomings. There is also the fact that Peoples-Jones is a free agent after the season and the Browns could be preparing for an eventual free agent departure.
Perhaps Peoples-Jones is able to build upon last season and have another career-year. But considering Cleveland’s approach this offseason they may not believe that is a likely outcome. A best-case scenario would appear to be something similar to his 2022 campaign. A more likely result is something in-between 2021 and 2022’s seasons which would be fine, but not necessarily anything spectacular either.
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