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BEREA, Ohio -- It is difficult to imagine the Cleveland Browns being overloaded at any position after finishing 3-13 a year ago, but that could be the case at wide receiver. The Browns drafted as though they did not expect to have Josh Gordon on the roster. They made 14 total picks, more than any other team, and used four of them on wide receivers.
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Nine receivers with a legitimate chance to make the team are in camp, which means at least three have to go from the list that includes rookies Corey Coleman (first round), Richard Louis (fourth), Jordan Payton (fifth) and Rashard Higgins (fifth), plus Gordon, Terrelle Pryor, Andrew Hawkins, Marlon Moore and Taylor Gabriel.
Gordon is suspended for the first four games of the regular season as part of his reinstatement by commissioner Roger Goodell, so only two from the above group would have to go when the roster is to cut the roster to 53.
Pryor and Moore looked like the best of the veterans in OTAs and minicamps, and both are continuing to stand out in training camp. Pryor is light years ahead of where he was last summer in his first training camp as a wide receiver.
"Josh was talking to (senior offensive assistant) Coach (Al) Saunders yesterday," Pryor said after practice on Monday. "He said, 'This is one of the best receiving corps since I've been here. It's the best receiving corps.'
"The guys on this field, all 13 receivers can play. It's exciting. For myself, just the progress I've made and to actually just to be out there battling with corners and being able to beat corners man-to-man and getting off presses pretty easy now. It's the ultimate competitive sport and I love it to death."
Hawkins was with the Bengals when head coach Hue Jackson was an assistant in Cincinnati. He is suited for the role of slot receiver.
Down the road the Browns' offense could look like a Baylor reunion with Robert Griffin III throwing passes to Gordon and Coleman. The three never played together in college but nevertheless the Baylor bond is tight. Griffin and Gordon did play on the same team and are looking forward to being together again.
Gordon is nursing a quadriceps injury and has not practiced this training camp.
"We basically grew up together in college," Griffin said. "I had him there with me for two-and-a-half years. I know who Josh is. Like I've always told him, he's always been family. He'll always be family. I know what he has to do to overcome some of the obstacles that he's put himself into.
"For me, he's always been that guy - if you talk to him, you're going to love him. If you're around him, you're going to think he's a great guy. He just made a couple of mistakes. It's his job and our job to help him no longer make those mistakes."
Gordon has been suspended part or all of each of the past three seasons for violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He hasn't played a full season since 2012.
NOTES: Center Cameron Erving suffered a minor left forearm injury in a goal line drill. Trainers taped the arm but Erving remained outside watching the rest of practice after the tape was removed. Jackson said it is not serious. Gerhart replaced Erving with the first team. ... Griffin III continues to take most of the snaps with the first offense, but Jackson still is not ready to name his starting quarterback. ... Hawkins suffered a hamstring injury. Jackson said he is not sure how serious it is. ... Safety Rahim Moore intercepted a pass from Josh McCown near the end of practice in one of the defensive highlights of the day.
