High-priced Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. fill Browns receivers room by themselves

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.

Sixth in a series.

The blueprint of the Browns’ player transaction season will be written after a thorough evaluation of the roster that coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry inherit from their predecessors.

Stefanski and his coaching staff, and Berry and all the scouts, must have a clear understanding of their own players before they head to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis beginning Feb. 23.

We’re previewing each Browns position group to set up yet another important offseason for the franchise with the longest playoff drought in the NFL.

(Salary information courtesy of overthecap.com)

Wide receiver

Position coach: Chad O’Shea, 47.

There was speculation he would have been a candidate to join Josh McDaniels with the Browns because of their association with the Patriots from 2012 to 2018. It turns out O’Shea and Kevin Stefanski broke in together with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. O’Shea worked with receivers and special teams over the next two years before moving on to New England. With the Patriots, O’Shea was position coach for 1,000-yard receivers Wes Welker, Julian Edelman, Randy Moss and Brandin Cooks. Along the way, he earned three Super Bowl rings. “He has this unique knowledge of a successful program, which I think is really enticing from my perspective,” Stefanski said. O’Shea joined ex-Patriots assistant coach Brian Flores in Miami last year as his offensive coordinator. Flores made a surprising change after the 2019 season and lured Chan Gailey out of retirement to replace O’Shea.

Players under contract (with projected 2020 salary cap figures in millions)

Odell Beckham Jr. ($14.25), Jarvis Landry ($14.55), D.J. Montgomery ($.511), Damion Ratley ($.708), Taywan Taylor ($.8965).

Players with expiring contracts

Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge.

Overview

Beckham’s future came into question last year, but owner Jimmy Haslam and Stefanski have avowed they “absolutely” want him back. As Beckham’s erratic behavior at the LSU championship game gets smaller in the rear-view mirror, the next question is his commitment to the Browns’ offseason program. Asked about that, Stefanski had a curious response. “Commitment is shown over time,” he said. Beckham’s contract is unencumbered by salary cap penalties if traded, but $11.15 million of his $14 million base salary becomes guaranteed on March 18. Landry’s entire base salary of $13 million is fully guaranteed on March 22. Odds are they will be the two highest-paid Browns in 2020, leaving little room in the receivers room for anything but rookie contracts. The Browns already are on the books for the fourth-most spending at the receiver position, per overthecap.com.

What’s needed

When Kareem Hunt was activated from suspension for the final eight games, he filled several roles. One was essentially as a third receiver. In Minnesota, Stefanski favored a two receiver-two tight end alignment, which further reduces the need for a traditional third wide receiver other than for reserve duty.

(Next: Tight end.)

Part 1: Defensive line

Part 2: Linebacker

Part 3: Defensive secondary

Part 4: Running back

Part 5: Offensive line