Signing Andrew Hawkins Shows Browns Starting to Put Franchise Together

March 18, 2014   ·   Andrea Hangst   ·   Jump to comments

The Cleveland Browns were finally able to call wide receiver Andrew Hawkins one of their own on Tuesday, five days after offering him a four-year, $13.6 million contract to leave the rival Cincinnati Bengals.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Bengals have opted against matching the Browns' offer, which makes Hawkins the sixth free-agent signing the team has made in the past week.
With such an expensive, front-loaded contract, Hawkins will be expected to come in and start as the team's slot receiver, replacing Davone Bess, who was released by the team earlier in March.
In three years with the Bengals, Hawkins caught 86 of the 132 passes thrown his way for 995 yards and four touchdowns. His best season came in 2012, with 51 receptions on 80 targets for 553 yards and all four of his career touchdowns.
He missed half of the 2013 season with an ankle injury, catching only 12 passes for 199 yards and no scores. However, Pro Football Focus (subscrip...

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