Unless things take a very sudden turn, Natson is doing all the punt and kick returning, #1 guy from the jump. I think he's a lock.

I wrote it elsewhere: If you aren't OBJ, Landry, Higgins, Hooper, Bryant, Chubb, or Hunt, you're primarily a ST player... or player development. That's Natson, Hodge, and DPJ.

I've typed this out a few times as well, but it helps me go over it in my head lol

WR1 OBJ

WR2 Jarvis

WR3 Higgins

WR4 DPJ

WR5 Hodge

WR6 JoJo

I'm having a hard time coming off of those six WR's. And everyone, except Higgs, is a willing special teams participant. Although OBJ hasn't done it much, he has returned before, and of course we've seen Jarvis do it.

As I said early on...and in regards to Njoku as well. Higgins is #3 and has been all along. The other kids NEED reps to see if they can gel with Mayfield, and if they are worth keeping. Higgins is and has been a safety net of sorts for Mayfield, and that is why he was brought back. I totally agree with Ocon's list.

Higgins deserves plenty of credit. In the initial stages of camp, he seemed to legitimately be losing ground as others around him made plays. It wasn't entirely on him, about a week ago Zegura said on the daily broadcast that Higgins seemed to get a bad ball each time he created separation. But he's strung together several great practices and seems to be rekindling that chemistry he once had with Mayfield. He also looks a little bigger but is moving fluidly. Could be a win-win as Higgins improves and continues to build on his cohesion with Mayfield.

He's the kind of guy I can see being in Cleveland for a long time. Franchise quarterbacks always have their security blanket, a player they maintain their chemistry with and trust, but who is able to be kept around because their talent doesn't necessarily have other teams dying for their services. The more this happens, the more Mayfield is undoubtedly going to want him to be kept around.

I agree with putting DPJ at #4 on the list. Coaches are heaping the praise on him while also being very genuine with talking about what he needs to work on. I think he'll make his impact sooner rather than later. Kid has all the talent in the world, the kind of talent which Higgins lacks, and he's roared on to the scene.

The annoying thing about Ratley is whenever he gets over his soft tissue injuries, he always looks like a real talent. Every damn time. Maybe I'm wrong and he's one of those names we say later, like, "Oh, yeah, I remember him," but...

I have a feeling he's gonna get a shot somewhere and become an actual player.

Bingo on Ratley! Just when I'm sick of his unavailability, he comes back and flashes. Damn it.

He pisses me off! He's got size, he's got speed, he's got hands... it's just a matter of reps and looks and health. But it's likely to be elsewhere, doubt he doesn't get snatched if we try to put him on the expanded PS.

Interesting because Natson's been consistently the PR and KR. In the above scenario, I guess DPJ?

Ratley instantly on the list adds to our intrigue. Zegura knows inside stuff, suggests that they see what we see, a guy who could become part of your offense next year or the year after.

Higgins is my guy until he isn't. He won my football heart.

Peoples-Jones was asked during his presser what area he feels he improved the most and if there was anything that surprised him during his first camp.

"I was just excited to get back with everything going on this year, it's been a crazy year so far. Just being out there, being around the guys and being on a team, you know in a good offense has been fun for me."

I feel like that last line was a little slip on his part because, as we discussed when we drafted him, the offense in Michigan sucked and so did his quarterback. DPJ is too professional to say it but Michigan is currently trash and couldn't capitalize on the recruitment of a star wide out.

Which does bleed in to another point - DPJ has always been a star. A five star receiver who was not only the best receiver recruit in Michigan but was considered the best receiver recruit from Michigan in a generation and among the best in the entire nation. He stayed home to play football and, even though it really didn't work out, there was never any issues.

The kid is a hard worker, softly spoken, praise all over for being a great team mate and having high character. He never developed that diva-type attitude that so many star receivers have because they can get away with. I think that is a testament to who he is. That's a lot to go through without being a douche about it.

I enjoy listening to him. He's got a team-first emphasis, willingness to get better and a commitment to doing his best. He seems like a great kid.

I agree, BDU. DPJ spoke volumes without saying a word. You summed up his career perfectly.

He is a very interesting case. You never want to cut good football players. Dovovan possess that rare blend of size, power and speed. It almost certainly will come at the expense of a fellow WR. I feel that we simply cannot risk exposing DPJ to waivers before he even has a chance to get on the field.

Yes, there are "protected" spots on the practice squad, but the issue is getting him to the practice squad. I think Andrew Berry is smarter than John Dorsey in this regard. He won't do the "roster gymnastics" that JD did last year with Greg Robinson.

If DPJ is on the waiver wire at any time, there are other GMs just as smart as Andrew and they would capitalize on that blunder. Keep him on the active 53, call it a day, and walk away happy.

I think it was Ward yesterday who said DPJ is gonna be a big part of the offense, they're figuring out all kinds of ways to use him. I think it's feeling like Higgins, DPJ, and Hodge are locked in.

Not sure if that means Natson's "audition" failed and we'll now see DPJ returning kicks, or if he makes it as the 6th.

Wonder if it's Ratley vs JoJo. Also, wonder how the 4 protected PS'ers plays in. I think they have to pass through waivers the first time, right?

In other words, can we pass through one of our no-name O-lineman on this first waive, and keep 7 WR's for a hot second?

Gamesmanship time.

Several big drops to open the season on both Houston and KC opening drives. Cost Houston a big first down and KC a touchdown.

If this is an issue for all teams due to the limited camps, it could be a boost that we've got sure-handed guys out there. Especially Landry and Hooper. Odell is usually pretty good but did have some drop issues last year. Higgins is pretty damn sure handed too.

Houston's OL and lack of Nuke really, really showed. They're not terribly good but they lost their LT, best DL, and franchise WR... so...

And Watson should pay me to never watch him. He's never bad but he's never special when I do.

I was actually going to say that about Watson. I watch Mahomes and just shake my head at allowing KC to leap us, if the reports are indeed correct that they were leaping up because we wanted Mahomes, and we traded back when we couldn't get him. Makes sense, they jumped two spots ahead of us.

Imagine adding Myles Garrett and Patrick Mahomes in the one draft. My goodness. That's the stuff of legends. It really is the benefit of good teams when trading. They know their future first is average in value, while ours ultimately became the first overall selection yet again - the unwillingness to surrender it was because of the future value, a future value which may have not been needed if we had Mahomes.

With that said, who knows if Hue ruins him. He's no Andry Reid.

But I digress, that hurts. But passing on Watson just doesn't kill me. The kid is a star, no doubt, but I've never watched him and been crushed that he's not ours.

Yeah. He's really confusing for me. I pull for him because he's a great guy and a potential face-of-the-league type... but then I watch him and I make a lot of weird faces and shrugs, like, "Hmm."

Can't put my finger on it but he doesn't light me up in any one way like another dozen or so QBs.

I gotta look to see if I can verify this more, but the WR room has a new member; now former TE David Njoku.

https://twitter.com/colefromcle/status/1322231390683963394?s=09

Interesting move. At 4.64 he is not 'blazing fast', but at 6'4" and close to 250 he will be a mismatch for any CB and likely gets S over coverage.

I could not find any other "official" announcements on this, so maybe this is one fan's idea, or maybe the Browns will just play thr Chief at WR without making it a permanent move.

But as you pointed out DF, matchups definitely favor the Browns.