With NFL training camps coming up next month, it is the time for fans, media and coaches to identify players who might have breakout seasons and be the ones who could be exciting to watch. One player to keep an eye on is Cleveland Browns second-year wideout Antonio Callaway.
Callaway, selected 105th overall in the fourth round of the 201 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Callaway was projected to be either a late first or second round pick before legal trouble during his time at Florida—and most recently during his rookie year in the Cleveland-area suburb of Strongsville due to marijuana possession—would tank his draft value.
Luckily, for the Browns—and general manager John Dorsey—gambling on the troubled 22-year-old to the tune of the 5’11, 200-pound speedster caught 43 passes for 586 yards for 586 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 13.6 yards per reception.
One who can stretch the field due to his 4.41 speed and quality hands, despite the addition of Odell Beckham Jr., the presence of OBJ on one side of the field with Jarvis Landry working out of the slot may be the best thing to happen to the Miami-area native.
Recently quoted as stated that ten touchdowns and 1,000 yards are his goal for the upcoming season, Callaway could very well achieve that mark thanks to being part of one of the NFL’s most-stacked offenses that will likely cause opposing defenses and defensive coordinators nightmares as to who to double-team and who to play man-to-man against.
Cleveland legitimately boasts what could be one of the most potent offenses to ever take the field with the aforementioned Beckham Jr, Landry, Callaway, Rashard Higgins, Jaelen Strong, Derrick Willies at WR, David Njoku and Seth DeValve at TE and Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson and Kareem Hunt at RB.
And of course, Baker Mayfield at QB.
As with all things in the NFL, it will all depend on matchups, but if The Browns were to deploy a three-WR set, don’t be shocked if Callaway likely benefit from OBJ being double-covered in finding open spaces in coverage.
Some may call Callaway’s comments brash or arrogant, but love it or leave it, if the early reports out of camp are true in that he has really grown and matured in his route-running and catching, then his bold proclamation may not be that far off.