2020 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns Pick WR Donovan Peoples-Jones at No. 187 of 6th Round

With the 187th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-2, 207 lbs, Michigan). Peoples-Jones was the team’s sixth round selection and the third of Day 3. This was Cleveland’s final scheduled pick of the day, unless they trade back into the draft.

Scouting Reports

Here is a scouting report from CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler, who projected Peoples-Jones to be a 4th- to 5th-round pick and the 24th-best wide receiver on his board.

A three-year starter at Michigan, Peoples-Jones was the “X” receiver in offensive coordinator Josh Gattis’ spread, pro-style scheme, lining up across the formation. While quarterback Shea Patterson and the inconsistent passing offense were partly responsible for his lack of production, he underachieved at Michigan, never developing into the team’s go-to threat (zero 100-yard receiving games in 37 career games).

Peoples-Jones is naturally talented and competitive, making him capable of “wow” plays on tape. However, he needs a runway to get going and currently lacks the tempo, deception and short-area quickness to win as a route runner vs. NFL-level corners. Overall, Peoples-Jones is a physically gifted athlete with the size, ball skills and long-striding speed required to be a playmaker, but he isn’t a natural separator in his routes and reliability is a major concern, projecting as a high risk, high reward target.

Here is what Pro Football Focus said about Peoples-Jones:

How He Fits the Browns

The Browns haven’t re-signed WR Rashard Higgins yet. Although they have other guys on the roster like WR Damion Ratley, the two big stars are Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry. Both of them are coming off of offseason surgeries. While they are expected to recover fine, it helps having a third guy who can compete for receiving depth. Cleveland addressed all the positions they were expected to.

React Now

What do you think, Browns fans?