Tag: Jamari Thrash

The Browns rookie class still has no official stats after 4 weeks

The Cleveland Browns rookie class still has no official stats after 4 weeks

After the first four weeks of the NFL season, most teams are starting to get a pretty good feel for how much their rookie draft class is capable of doing for the rest of the year. The draftees likely have their feet wet and are settling into being professional players.

The Cleveland Browns, alas, are not most NFL teams.

Cleveland has yet to see its entire rookie class register a single statistic through the first four games. Only two of the Browns 2024 NFL Draft class have even played in the regular season so far.

Third-round offensive lineman Zak Zinter has seen the most action. The No. 85 overall pick has started two games — and done so at different positions for the injury-ravaged Cleveland line. Zinter played left tackle in Week 2 and moved to his more natural right guard spot for the start in Week 4. He’s played 109 snaps in the first four games.

Nathaniel Watson, a sixth-round linebacker from Mississippi State, is the only other rookie who has seen the field. Watson has played 33 total reps, all on special teams. He’s yet to record a tackle.

The Browns didn’t have a first-round pick, dealt away as part of the Deshaun Watson trade. That trade also included Cleveland’s fourth-rounder in 2024 (among others). Their top pick, second-round DT Michael Hall from Ohio State, has been sidelined on the exempt list for a domestic assault situation over the offseason.

Cleveland’s other picks include WR Jamari Thrash (5th round) and seventh-round defenders Jowon Briggs and Myles Harden.

WR Jamari Thrash gets recognized by the Browns for stellar summer

The rookie gets his flowers

The Cleveland Browns saw fifth round rookie wide receiver perform at a high level this summer and through the preseason. As a result, he has been named as the team’s Maurice Bassett Award recipient.

Through the three preseason games, Thrash racked up 141 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches for the Browns. This included being on the receiving end of a deep bomb from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks.

He has made the initial 53-man roster, but more importantly, may have put himself in a position to see significant snaps on Sundays as a result of his strong offseason. Thrash may have gotten snubbed from a handshake on the sideline, but his play did not go unnoticed by his coaches.

It’s early, but it looks like the Browns have a good one on their hands as the Georgia State and Louisville product gets set to begin his NFL career.

Jamari Thrash hilariously gets the rookie treatment on the sideline from fellow Browns WR

The rookie gets no love!

The Cleveland Browns have to be pleased with the performance of rookie wide receiver Jamari Thrash through the preseason. However, after fellow wide receiver James Proche II scored a touchdown in the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, he hilariously snubs the rookie sitting at the end of the bench.

You can see Proche chopping it up with the likes of quarterback Tyler Huntley, who threw the touchdown pass, and the other wide receivers like Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Jaelon Darden, and Cedric Tillman. He then gives them all handshakes working down the bench but misses Thrash looking for some love at the end of the bench.

Thrash hilariously holds his hand out waiting for the handshake from Proche that never comes. The hurt on his face is evident as he gets slighted by his teammate despite racking up 73 yards and a touchdown on four catches on the night.

Don’t worry, Jamari! You’ll make a name for yourself soon!

Dorian Thompson-Robinson caps off strong preseason with deep bomb to Jamari Thrash

DTR gets the Browns on the board!

The Cleveland Browns have gotten stellar play out of second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the second year in a row, and he has capped it off against the Seattle Seahawks with a deep bomb to rookie wideout Jamari Thrash for a touchdown.

Thompson-Robinson moved the pocket off of a run fake, reset his feet, and launched the ball 50 yards down the field for the rookie Thrash. The former UCLA quarterback has been mentioned in potential trade talks, but he is giving the Browns a great reason to hold onto him.

With two years left on his contract beyond this season, Thompson-Robinson continues to look like the backup quarterback of the future in Cleveland. If the Browns opt to keep three quarterbacks on their roster, his spot on the 53-man roster is safe.

As the Browns rested the majority of their starters, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, Thompson-Robinson continues to take advantage of an increased number of reps.

Browns Podcast: What does the film say about WR Jamari Thrash?

More play-making in the wide receiver room

After adding to the defensive line on day two of the draft, the Browns added more playmaking in the fifth round, selecting Lousiville wide receiver Jamari Thrash. It surprised me that he was still on the board at pick 156 and could turn into great value for Cleveland.

Thrash is a natural separator with great body control and route running. He understands how to trick defensive backs into thinking he is going one way before changing direction and going another. Wide receivers who can win at every level, including as a deep threat, can be a quarterback’s best friend.

Thrash is undersized and struggles against press-man coverage against more physical corners. But he is elusive with the ball in his hands with great short-area quickness and can truck guys when he gets going at times.

You can hear more about the fifth-round pick in this week’s film review podcast by clicking here.

Browns Podcast: Grading Cleveland’s 2024 draft class

How does the Browns class grade?

After months of build-up, the 2024 NFL draft has come and gone just like that. This year was the final year the Browns had to give up a first-round pick for Deshaun Watson, so fans again had to wait until day two for Cleveland’s first pick.

It came as a surprise when the team took Michael Hall Jr. only because of how crowded the defensive tackle room already is. But Andrew Berry and company targeted Hall with his tremendous athleticism and potential that could make him a great player down the road.

Zak Zinter felt like one of the safest picks to make, as the former All-American guard has a high floor but a limited ceiling. Fans clamored for another wide receiver, and the Browns drafted an explosive playmaker in the fifth round, Jamari Thrash, from Louisville.

Ultimately, this was a good draft for Cleveland; you can hear us talk more in-depth about these prospects and more by clicking here.

WATCH: Jamari Thrash gets the 2024 NFL draft call from the Browns

The Browns are bringing Jamari Thrash to Cleveland via the 2024 NFL draft. Watch the moment he got the call.

The Cleveland Browns added another wide receiver to their roster in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Louisville’s Jamari Thrash with Pick No. 156.

Thrash brings alignment versatility to play outside or in the slot, a dense route tree, and a whole lot of praise from NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. with him to Cleveland as he gets the opportunity to learn from Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and more.

The addition of Thrash will give the Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski the ability to move Cooper and Jeudy around in a multitude of looks.

Watch here as we get an inside look at Thrash getting the call from general manager Andrew Berry and Stefanski to let him know the Browns were taking him off the board.

As you can see from the video, Thrash is not a man of many words but is ready to get to work with the Browns. Welcome to Cleveland, Jamari! Let’s get to work!

NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. heaps praise onto new Browns’ WR Jamari Thrash

New Browns wideout Jamari Thrash has a big fan in Steve Smith Sr.

The Cleveland Browns have added to their wide receiver room, selecting Louisville’s Jamari Thrash with the 156th pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

And one former NFL legend is a big fan of the new Browns’ wideout as he transitions to the next level. On his YouTube show “Cut to It” two weeks ago, former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens standout Steve Smith Sr. heaped praise onto Thrash:

“Very, very, very smart. … Pro Day was explosive. When I was at his Pro Day, they had him run a little jerk route. He runs, settles his feet, goes the opposite way, and I believe he actually came out faster once he restarted than he did when he started. He can run. Fluid, sinking his hips well, caught the ball and he was smooth, adjusted to some of the bad throws and adjusted some of the good throws.”

Smith did not stop raving about Thrash there, adding even more hype to the name of the Louisville standout:

“He understands exactly where he is on the field,” Smith said. “He knows exactly who he is, and if you draft him, you need to know who he is: He is an XY receiver. Not just a guy with speed, but he also has routes. Usually with a guy was speed, you say he only runs three or four routes. This guy, he could run every route in the route tree. He’s still a young kid, but he’s exceptionally smart. I loved his Pro Day and I love what I saw. He is definitely a chain mover and a deep threat on your offense once you draft this kid.”

Smith also went viral last season for the harsh things he had to say about another Cleveland Browns receiver. It’s just one man’s opinion, but the words of Smith set a high bar for the Browns’ fifth round pick.

Poll: How do you grade the Browns selection of Jamari Thrash?

What do you grade the Thrash pick?

The Cleveland Browns have added a skill position player in the fifth round using pick No. 156 on Louisville wide receiver Jamari Thrash. The pick makes sense with Thrash’s ability to play inside and outside at the position, giving the Browns alignment flexibility.

Thrash is a sudden athlete with great explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and excellent long speed to go with it. He is an elite separator who tracks the ball in the air well and can hit a home run in a deep ball situation. Thrash is a quality player who suffered a wrist injury that limited him in the last month of the 2023 season.

Thrash has a good football IQ and knows how to attack defenses, especially against zone coverage. He plays pretty well against man coverage as well. For me, it’s a solid C+, maybe a B- selection for the Browns; how do you grade the pick?

Browns select Louisville WR Jamari Thrash with pick No. 156 in 2024 NFL draft

The Browns add a wideout with alignment versatility to their roster.

The Cleveland Browns have added Louisville wide receiver Jamari Thrash with their fifth round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

After addressing their offensive and defensive trenches on Day 2, the Browns now add a skill player to start their activities on Day 3. Thrash joins Jerry Jeudy as the newest members of the Browns’ wide receiver room this offseason.

A transfer from Georgia State, Thrash racked up 858 yards and six touchdowns with the Cardinals this past season.

At 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, Thrash runs a 4.46 40-yard dash and possesses plus ability after the catch. He has alignment versatility as he can play X, Z, or in the slot as well.

This will put pressure on players like David Bell at the end of the wide receiver room. All-in-all, Thrash is a solid depth piece in the wide receiver room who the Browns can move all around offensive formations to earn mismatches for both him and Amari Cooper and Jeudy around him.