The Cleveland Browns’ receiver room was atrocious last year. Ranked #31 to be exact. And during the offseason, Cleveland GM Andrew Berry made it his mission to change this.
Veteran Jerry Jeudy is entering his final year of the three-year contract he signed when the Browns traded for him back in 2024. However, that is only one piece of the receiver puzzle.
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Cedric Tillman is also a veteran that the franchise spent a valuable third-round draft pick on. He hasn’t burned
up the field in any of his three seasons and is another athlete headed into the final year of his rookie deal.
During free agency, Berry signed Tylan Wallace away from the Baltimore Ravens, but he hasn’t been involved in a receiving capacity since he entered the league. The deal was looked at as more of a returner role.
Then in April’s NFL draft, Berry selected KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M late in the first round at spot #24, and then took Denzel Boston with the team’s first second round pick at slot #39. Back-to-back receivers drafted. That should liven up the room.
Suddenly, there were 11 receivers under contract. Already on the roster were Jamari Thrash and Isaiah Bond. Signed to a reserve/futures contract in January were Luke Floriea and Isaiah Wooden. Thrash and Malachi Corley were tendered. Kole Wilson was brought in after the draft as an undrafted free agent rookie.
In mid-May, three players were signed, and three were released, including Wooden.
One of the new guys was a tryout player named Aaron Anderson. Who is he, and why does the roster need tryout players anyway? This isn’t Arena Football.
Beginnings
Anderson (5’-8”, 191 pounds) grew up as a Creole kid in the Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Edna Karr High School.
He was a track star, having participated in the 100, 200-meter, and 4×100 and 4×200 relays. In the 100, his best time was 10.77. He also ran a 7.03 indoors in the 60-meter run. His team placed first in the River Parish Relays with a time of 43.24 and won the 4×200 relay in 1:30.57.
Anderson was also a sensation on his high school’s football team, playing receiver, but had special talent as a lethal returner. In one contest, he returned three kickoffs for a touchdown. In 2018 and again in 2019, his high school won the state football championship.
He was considered one of the more dangerous open-field threats in that cycle. His compact size, paired with great speed and quickness, made him ideal for the slot receiver, and he had uncanny return abilities.
Anderson was raised by Bridgett Anderson, a single mom.
High School accolades:
- Two-time First Team Class 4A All-State Team
- Two-time Times-Picayune All-Metro
- 2021 Times-Picayune All-Metro New Orleans “Offensive Player of the Year”
- Under Armour All-America Game invitee
- Five-star prospect by rivals.com
- Ranked #1 prospect in the State of Louisiana by 247Sports.com
- Two-time State Champions (football)
Anderson had plenty of college offers from Arkansas, LSU, Florida State, Texas, USC, Kentucky, Miami, Auburn, and Alabama. He chose LSU, but after head coach Ed Orgeron was fired, he decommitted and decided on Alabama because of a relationship with head coach Nick Saban.
But at Bama, he only stayed one year before entering the transfer portal, and then transferred back to LSU.
During his three-year stay at LSU, he had 106 catches for 1,341 yards, a 12.7 yards per reception average, and scored five touchdowns. He also returned on punt for -3 yards, and returned six kickoffs for 191 yards with one touchdown.
In his junior year, he became injured several times and missed the final three games. He had a strained elbow early in the season and then reaggravated the injury later in the November game against Bama. Anderson also dealt with some minor knee ailments and a toe issue.
He opted to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft, but was undrafted. The Browns reached out and offered him a tryout, which he accepted. During the rookie minicamp, Anderson was one of 25 “tryout players” who participated. Anderson, along with LB Reid Carrico out of West Virginia, was the only two players offered a training camp contract. He was signed to a three-year deal worth $3.1 million over the term of the deal.
His Pro Day results:
Height: 5’-8”
Weight: 191 pounds
Hand: 9 1/4”
Arm: 29 3/4”
Wingspan: 72 3/8”
40-yard dash: 4.58
10-yard shuttle: 1.60
3-cone: 7.33
225-pound bench press: 15 reps
Vertical jump: 30”
Broad jump: 9’4”
College games: 33
College snaps: 1,011
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What should Browns fans expect from Anderson?
Anderson has been described as being very dedicated to the game in all areas – practice habits, strength and conditioning, as well as nutrition. He is a hard worker who was a phenom in high school, but whose efforts did not become successful at the next level. An electric kick returner, we will see if this is where he finds his groove in the league. Even though he shone at the rookie minicamp, keep in mind that the event was full of drafted and undrafted rookies, free agents, and fellow tryout players. Will need to see what Anderson can accomplish against wily veterans who aren’t easily fooled with body motions.
WHY HE COULD SUCCEED:
This kid had really good speed and was able to shift into the next gear while in a straight line. Will work for catches over the middle and is very willing to man the slot position. He will run disciplined routes and has a toolbox full of moves. Very shifty with the ability to stack cornerbacks vertically.
He has deep threat ability and is a proven returner. Good tempo and patience from the slot with clean footwork.
College accolades:
- Senior Bowl invitee
WHY HE COULD FAIL:
His frame is very undersized. That may work in college, but NFL defensive backs aren’t going to let up. He had some lingering knee issues last year that limited him. Anderson’s hand-eye coordination will need some refining, and he does drop passes. Ick.
His size also limits his catch radius, and he isn’t the greatest at contested catches. Not a good downfield blocker at all. Anderson will at times struggle to gain separation from the more physical cornerbacks. If they get their hands on him early in his route, he is stymied. He will also compromise his anchor point on his routes at times.
