Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2019: WR Preview, Part 3

Following Part 1 and Part 2 of our wide receiver previews, we now bring you Part 3, which looks at the four rookie receivers on the team trying to make a name for themselves.

9. Dorian Baker - Rookie WR

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 213 lbs | Age: 23
Experience: Rookie | College: Kentucky

Even though he went to college at Kentucky, don’t let that conceal the fact that Dorian Baker is getting to play for his hometown team. Baker went to Cleveland Heights for high school, and grew up as a Browns fan. He’s already acknowledged the honor it is to wear No. 19 for training camp, since it belonged to Browns legend Bernie Kosar.

Baker was signed by the Browns after the draft as an undrafted free agent. His senior season was thwarted by an ankle injury, so he was granted a medical redshirt to play in 2018, a year in which he finished with just 13 catches for 133 yards. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com said the following about him:

Physical wideout with an understanding of route leverage who lacks desired level of quickness and long speed expected of NFL receivers. Baker doesn’t have enough separation or ball skills to win deep so he will need to hyper-focus on body positioning and winning contested catches to have any chance of opening eyes as a possession receiver.

We’ll see if the hometown kid is able to create any buzz in camp.

Final Roster Odds: 5%

10. D.J. Montgomery - Rookie WR

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 201 lbs | Age: 22
Experience: Rookie | College: Austin Peay

Playing for a small school can make it hard to stand out in college, and it wasn’t D.J. Montgomery’s stats at Austin Peay that put him on the map. In his senior season, he caught 42 passes for 797 yards and 10 touchdowns. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Montgomery “hit the scouting radar thanks to his size, speed and explosion numbers at his pro day,” complimenting his above average athletic traits while pointing out that he must “improve basic fundamentals of route running and ball skills to have a shot.” He ran a 4.41 at his Pro Day with vertical leap of 37.5 inches.

If Montgomery can make an impression, it could be with his athleticism in the red zone, especially for the high touchdown rate he had in college. I’m not sure how often one gets to showcase those type of skills in training camp, though, where players with more route-running skills will shine.

Final Roster Odds: 5%

11. Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi - Rookie WR

Height: 5-11 | Weight: 181 lbs | Age: 24
Experience: Rookie | College: Phoenix College

If there is a player who fans might have an early rooting interest in, it’s Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi. He is the player who had the very unique story that I’m sure you’ve heard by now, but we will recap it here. He last played professional football in the NJCAA in 2016 with Phoenix College, excelling as a kick returner. Despite being an All-American returner, he couldn’t get the school to award him a scholarship, so he dropped out and used a credit card to travel to every possible FBS school to try showing them his film. Unfortunately, he found out he needed nine more credits to transfer anywhere, and didn’t have the money or eligibility time left to do that.

Flashforward to 2019, and Sheehy-Guiseppi was still determined to make an impression on someone to get to the NFL. Somehow, he got a stroke of luck to get in front of Alonzo Highsmith at a flag football event. He wasn’t even supposed to participate, but had researched Highsmith ahead of time and told the person letting people in that he knew Highsmith. He introduced himself, ran a 4.38, and Highsmith’s attention was captured. With Cleveland needing a punt returner after the departure of Jabrill Peppers, Sheehy-Guiseppi miraculously finds himself on a 90-man roster. However, he wasn’t excited just yet, as his goal is to get on the 53-man roster.

Final Roster Odds: 5%

12. Ishmael Hyman - Rookie WR

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 196 lbs | Age: 23
Experience: Rookie | College: James Madison

Cleveland signed Ishmael Hyman after he participated as a tryout player in rookie minicamp this year. He played for the Orlando Apollos most recently in the AAF, catching 4 passes for 60 yards, but it’s another tie-in to the Browns raiding talent from Garrett Gilbert’s offense.

With Jarvis Landry missing offseason programs to injury, it was pointed out by reporters that Hyman actually saw quite a few first-team reps during the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp, and that included this 61-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield:

Hyman earned some early praise from head coach Freddie Kitchens during that minicamp, but will it carry over to reps during training camp? Hyman could be a dark horse for the No. 5 receiving job if the team continues to like his speed and ability to return punts as well.

Final Roster Odds: 5%