Browns move fan favorite in proposed trade idea with Jets
Cleveland Browns are 2-2 heading into a tough game against the San Francisco 49ers and the season hasn’t gone as expected for one player in particular. Donovan Peoples-Jones has just six catches for 74 receiving yards on 14 total targets so far this season. Unfortunately, those numbers have come on 131 routes run. The veteran […]
Cleveland Browns are 2-2 heading into a tough game against the San Francisco 49ers and the season hasn’t gone as expected for one player in particular.
Donovan Peoples-Jones has just six catches for 74 receiving yards on 14 total targets so far this season. Unfortunately, those numbers have come on 131 routes run. The veteran wideout is amongst the worst in the league in yards per route run.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell cooked up a trade proposal that would trade Peoples-Jones to the New York Jets for wide receiver/returner Mecole Hardman.
“ Hardman has played just 22 offensive snaps since signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Jets during the offseason. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this week that Hardman could be traded. The former Chiefs playmaker never turned into the downfield burner Kansas City had hoped for when it drafted him in the second round in 2019, but he is a useful gadget player and a solid punt returner, so he can justify a role as a team's fourth or fifth wideout.” – Bill Barnwell, ESPN
Since Jakeem Grant Sr. went down for the season in the final exhibition, the Browns have really lacked anything in the return game. Peoples-Jones has eight punt returns for 50 yards but plenty has been left on the table.
Peoples-Jones has improved mightily over his first three seasons in the NFL. Each season his numbers have improved and last year he had 839 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It is just not working through four games this season to see that trend of improvement continue uphill.
Hardman can slide into a third or better yet fourth receiver spot and the trade would allow Cleveland to get rookie Cedric Tillman more targets.
Cleveland was interested in Hardman before he signed with the Jets in free agency, so this isn’t an idea out of the blue. Peoples-Jones is a free agent after the season, so Cleveland will have a choice to make at the deadline or they may lose him in the offseason.
Proposed trade idea sends Browns running back help they need
It would be a welcomed move for the Browns.
