Former quarterback Terrelle Pryor played his first full season at wide receiver in 2016. He successfully eased into his new position and became the Cleveland Browns’ No. 1 receiver, but the team declined to use the franchise tag on him.
Terrelle Pryor doesn’t get franchise tag, but Browns are still working on new deal
Pryor’s transition from quarterback to wide receiver has been a successful one.
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Pryor will hit free agency when the new league year begins on March 9, but the Browns are still working on re-signing him.
“I think we’d like to have Terrelle back and that’s a priority for us,” GM Sashi Brown said. “That said, we’re not going to panic if he’s not back, also. But he’s a good player, works hard, we think he fits in our system, had a lot of success with our coaches, so we think this is a great place for him to continue his career.”
Pryor’s agent met with the Browns in February to try to work out a new deal. In an interview with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Pryor insisted that he wanted to say in Cleveland.
”I do love being with the Browns,” Pryor said. “I love the building process here.”
Pryor entered the NFL in 2011 as a quarterback after playing college ball at Ohio State. He made 10 starts under center for the Oakland Raiders between 2011-13, but didn’t have much success, completing just 56.3 of his passes with nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was later traded to the Seattle Seahawks and had brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals, but never stuck as a QB at any of those teams.
With Pryor’s options dwindling, he landed with the Browns in 2015 and started the switch to receiver. He appeared in three games that year and caught just one pass, but in 2016 his old Raiders head coach, Hue Jackson, arrived in Cleveland. Jackson committed to making Pryor a full-time receiver, and he proceeded to be one of the Browns’ best offensive players. Pryor finished the 2016 season with 77 catches for 1,007 yards and five total touchdowns, utilizing his dynamic athleticism to become a legitimate playmaker down the field.
The Browns are in the midst of a complete rebuild coming off a 1-15 season, so they could use any legitimate talent they can get. But whether Pryor re-signs with him or joins a new team, he will earn a big pay day after a breakout season at wide receiver.
See More:
