With the Cleveland Browns having hired Hue Jackson to be the next head coach and the Cincinnati Bengals, the team for which Jackson coordinated in 2015, looking likely to allow several key players to leave via free agency, a natural connection of sorts has developed between the two Ohio-based NFL franchises. And that, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, is not without reason. Per Cabot, the Browns are "expected" to pursue Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu once the NFL's free agency period opens in March.
Jackson apparently "loves Sanu's versatility" and would "undoubtedly" want him in Cleveland. The Bengals are said to want him back, but sources told Fox Sports on Thursday that there's "virtually no chance" of Sanu returning to Cincy next year. A former third-round pick by Cincinnati, Sanu has spent his entire four-year career with the Bengals, all alongside Jackson in some capacity.
As a key depth receiver, Sanu racked up 56 and 33 receptions the last two years when Jackson took over as play caller. His best professional season came in 2014 when he caught those 56 balls for 790 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, Sanu benefited from playing alongside the likes of A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Tyler Eifert and the rest of the Bengals offensive weaponry, so there's no knowing how well he'd be able to perform on a team like the Browns that, at present, has little in the way of established offensive threats.
If Josh Gordon comes back healthy and sane and Travis Benjamin re-signs, Sanu could help them create a truly impressive wide receiver corps. But if Gordon's return to the NFL isn't so triumphant and/or Benjamin finds more money elsewhere, Sanu, should he reunite with Jackson, may find himself the top dog on an offense's keyed off of Gary Barnidge, Duke Johnson and a quarterback to be named later.
