The Browns have been searching for help at the wide receiver and are taking a chance on someone from their rival.

The team has acquired Sammie Coates from the Pittsburgh Steelers along with a 2019 seventh round pick in exchange for the 2018 sixth round pick originally owned by Pittsburgh.

The Browns acquired that sixth round pick from Pittsburgh last year when they sent former first round pick Justin Gilbert to Pittsburgh.

Coates was Pittsburgh’s third round pick in 2015 out of Auburn. He appeared in 21 games through two seasons with the Steelers. 

Last season Coates caught 21 passes for 435 yards and two touchdowns. His best game came against the New York Jets where he had six catches for 139 yards and those two touchdowns in the Steelers 31-13 win. 

He’s 6’2 with a 4.4 forty time and an unbelievable 41 inch vertical which gives him the package to be a vertical threat. The negative to his game is he has the tendency to have the drops which has been seen in his football career at Auburn and Pittsburgh. 

It’s a low risk-high reward type move for the browns who have been looking for wide receiver help behind Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. 

More than likely this will lead to the release of either Rashard Higgins or Jordan Payton who the team drafted last year. Both have struggled during their short tenures in the league.

I also hope this isn’t the only receiver they decide to pick up. The Browns need to keep searching for depth at that position and with first grabs on the waiver claims, they need to look at every option available.