Donovan Peoples-Jones

A 2020 sixth-round pick, Peoples-Jones progressed from part-time deep threat to regular starter in his third pro season, posting a 61-839-3 receiving line on 96 targets in 17 games last year. He saw 38 more targets in 2022 than he had in 2021, while his aDOT dropped from 15.4 to 11.7, his YPC from 17.6 to 13.8 and his YPT from 10.3 to 8.7. It was far more volume than he'd ever seen in the pros or college, having never topped 612 yards or 72 targets in three seasons at Michigan. Peoples-Jones primarily was drafted on the basis of athleticism -- something he showed off on a punt-return TD in last season -- after shining at the 2020 combine with a 4.48 40, 139-inch broad jump and 44.5-inch vertical at 6-2, 212. The Browns, however, acquired another impressive athlete this offseason with the trade for 2021 second-round pick Elijah Moore, who is much smaller (5-10, 178) but also more agile and faster (4.35 40). It's unclear if the two will compete for a starting job or Moore will be limited to slot work as the No. 3 receiver, but either way there's tougher target competition behind Amari Cooper this year with the Browns also adding WR Cedric Tillman in Round 3 to help QB Deshaun Watson.

Peoples-Jones is already ahead of the program for a sixth-round pick, and he now gets his best opportunity yet in Year 3, after the Browns traded for QB Deshaun Watson and saw their WR depth depleted. They did also add five-time 1,000-yard receiver Amari Cooper, but only after losing Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and TE Austin Hooper in a span of six months. Cleveland now is left with Peoples-Jones, 2021 third-round pick Anthony Schwartz and 2022 third-rounder David Bell as the top options behind Cooper, allowing the youngsters to duke it out for snaps and targets this summer. And while the other two get the nod for draft capital, Peoples-Jones has more experience (11 starts), standout measurables (4.48 40, 44.5-inch vertical at 6-2, 204) and a career 11.6 YPT on 78 targets. If you're wondering why he was a sixth-rounder, it's largely because he peaked at 612 yards in a season at Michigan, which makes for an interesting contrast with Bell (who averaged 101.6 ypg at Purdue but then ran a 4.65 40).

Peoples-Jones was a healthy scratch early in the 2020 season but was forced into a larger role after Odell Beckham sustained a season-ending knee injury Week 7. He brought an explosive element to the Browns offense and averaged 21.7 yards per catch. The vertical element is something that was missing after Beckham's injury until Peoples-Jones leap-frogged KhaDarel Hodge on the team's depth chart. With a healthy Beckham back in the mix, Peoples-Jones likely drops to the fourth on the depth chart and will compete for slotting with Hodge, Rashard Higgins, and rookie third-round draft pick Anthony Schwartz.

The Browns took Peoples-Jones in the sixth round of this April's NFL Draft, 187th overall. As a rookie, he could be an immediate contributor on special teams, but down the road, the 6-2, 212-pounder has the size and athleticism to emerge as an outside target who can go up and get the ball. At the combine, Peoples-Jones recorded a 4.48 40, as well as an excellent mark (44.5 inches) in the vertical leap category. Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry remain the Brown' clear-cut top two wide receivers, but beyond that duo, the pecking order is not set in stone, with Rashard Higgins currently penciled in as the team's WR3. As a result, Peoples-Jones does have an opportunity to climb up Cleveland's depth chart as the 2020 season rolls along.