DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign TE Jordan Akins

https://www.wkbn.com/sports/clevela...offensive-player-in-nfl-free-agency/amp/

Didn't see this posted

He should be an upgrade over Harrison. He is older, but he didn't come into the League till 2018.

Solid signing... liked him in Houston...

Houston and Cleveland perpetually swapping players. A familiar face for Watson.

Good move. Solidifies the 2/3 position behind Njoku.

Akin is a big upgrade Over Bryant. Bryant has contributed very
Little to the Browns since being drafted. Akin could be
A sneaky red zone threat

Here is some info I posted on Akins from the other thread.

--He had 37 catches and a career high 5 TDs last year.

--Jordan Akins PFF:

Overall: 72.4
Receiving: 74.3

--Player Bio
Akins signed with the Knights coming out of high school, but decided to try pro baseball instead. The Texas Rangers drafted him in the third round of the 2010 amateur draft. He struggled to make hay in four years in the minor leagues before finally enrolling at UCF in 2014. He played receiver in his first season, catching 12 passes for 135 yards. In 2015, he played three games before a torn ACL ended his year (14 receptions, 152 yards, two TD; six att., 149 yards on kickoff returns; two att., 15 yards on punt returns). While rehabbing his knee, Akins got stronger to move to tight end. The change paid off as he started seven of 13 games played, catching 23 balls for 347 yards and two scores in 2016. He took another step forward in 2017, garnering first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors for starting 12 games and catching 32 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns for the undefeated Knights. Akins is 25 years old and has a one-year-old daughter that lives in Minnesota with his girlfriend in order to stay close to her family.

Overview
Akins has decent size, but flashes with his speed and ability to challenge man coverage down the field. Akins saw 43.7 percent of his catches go for 20-plus yards this season, but he also has the necessary talent with the ball in his hands to take a short throw and turn it into a first down. Akins is a move tight end with the ability to separate and create throwing windows, but he won't offer much as a blocker. Akins has the talent to hear his name called on Day 3, but being a 26-year old rookie could hurt him somewhat.

Strengths
Comes off the snap low and with good forward lean
Early acceleration into routes is impressive
Adjusts routes to prevent extended contact with re-routers
Good separation burst out of his breaks
Has speed to climb quickly over the top of linebackers and challenge down the field
Has speed to threaten on the third level and the wiggle to do damage after the catch underneath
Was run into big hits by his quarterback and got right back up
Former minor league outfielder with plus ball tracking talent
Natural pass catcher who snatches away from his body

Weaknesses
Routes need work
Fails to sell routes with aggressive fakes that move opponents
Needs to get better at stacking defenders on his hip and keeping them out of the catch
Inconsistent winning contested catches
Will be a 26-year old rookie
Flawed as a blocker
Waist-bender and head-ducker
Doesn't bring hands with him quickly enough into point of attack
Unable to withstand power on the edge
Not enough dog in his blocking to warrant true consideration as a combo tight end


Sources Tell Us

"That guy stood out to me at (Senior Bowl) practice. He got open against most of the players who were guarding him." - AFC area scout

Ive watched him play. I think a lot of the report is true. He is an athletic pass receiver. Good speed and explosiveness. Tracks the ball well. Not a blocking TE at all. Might be another good option on TE when we spread the field and/or on passing downs.

If Atkin can stay healthy, he could be a good addition to the Browns offense.


Houston Texans Jordan Akins Film Breakdown

Is this the Ist offensive addition since they brought back that punt returning receiver who has been an afterthought?

There is no probability of success if they stand pat with just maturing years of H. Bryant, and D.P.J. as the 2 to 3 options.

This guy strikes one as a Harrison Bryant clone, and,, H. Bryant not being any better but being relied upon so often has been a major problem of the offense, for more than a couple of years now, even back to 2020, or nineteen,
so then, .. getting a guy just like him would be what? doubling down on a bad option? or just trying to tread water in a boat race?

Well, only negative TL?
Well???
The Offense was the problem all along so all offseason they have rebuilt the opposite side the "Defense."

That is loopy, crazy, loco as the cartoon mouse would say.

I really like this move for the Browns. Akins is way more athletic that Bryant. He is also fast and explosive. He's a threat to break long gains every time he gets the ball. A strong breeze knocked Bryant off his feet. Remember, Akins is not here to take Njoku's job. He's our second TE who can make big plays. I will wait to see his contract numbers, but I doubt that he broke the bank.

Akins has played in a minimum of 13 games in each season he has played in the NFL including 15 games last year so I don't see his health as being much of a concern. Last year was a break out season of sorts for him considering his production in the league to that point in terms of td's. In 2020, his last season playing with watson, his receptions and yardage were almost as good as last year but when it came to ypc and being a td target in the red zone it didn't equal td's.

2018 he had 0 td's
2019 he had 2 td's
2020 he had 1 td.
2021 he had 0 td's.
2022 he had 5td's.

In 2022 considering those lower production years he had by far the best year of his career with 37 catches for 495 yards with a 13.4 ypc average with 5 td's.

If the Browns can get what he did in 2022 out of him it will be a great addition at the TE position.

I like this signing for all the reasons mentioned; very athletic, actually can get YAC after the catch, doesn’t shy away from contact, etc. Heck, the Texans were using TE screens with him.


He should be a good 2nd TE. At the very least he’s an upgrade to Bryant. One other point to add, Njoku tends to miss some games for various injuries, the drop off from him to Bryant shouldn’t be as extreme when spot starting as TE1. If Akins plays like he has in the past, TE screens and routes should be available to use compared to having Bryant in there.

His catch radius definitely seems like an improvement from Bryant from his highlights. Can stretch out and get high ones, twist to get off target ones, and seems willing to catch in traffic. Not sure how consistently he does those without watching full games, but at least he's shown he can.

As a Browns fan, that play is exciting to watch.