Meet Up! Get to know new Browns WR Jamari Thrash

The Browns receiver depth is slammed full, and now another competitor added 

The Cleveland Browns do not have a wide receiver problem. The talent is there, and apparent.

Every NFL draft since GM Andrew Berry took control over the King’s treasure room, he has drafted a receiver in the draft: 2000 – Donovan Peoples-Jones Round 6; 2001: Anthony Schwartz Round 3 and Demetric Felton Round 6; 2022: David Bell Round 3 and Michael Woods Round 6; 2023: Cedric Tillman Round 3; and now 2024 Jamari Thrash of Louisville who was selected in Round 5 at pick #156.

Why the infatuation with receivers?

RELATED: JAMARI THRASH PROFILE

Berry is a former cornerback. He knows that the receiver position is what makes the offense tick, and that elite guys don’t have to come from the first round of draft picks. Antonio Brown was a sixth-round guy and while he eventually imploded, he was one of the league’s most dangerous for a long spell. Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs were taken in Round 5. Stevie Johnson was a seventh-round selection as was T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The sixth round also saw Marques Colston drafted. Raymond Berry is considered one of the league’s best receivers ever and was taken in Round 20.

Currently in the receiver room are resident Pro Bowler Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, both of whom were obtained via trades, Bell, Tillman, Woods, Jaelon Darden, and James Proche. Traditionally, the Browns only keep six.

So, who is Jamari Thrash? What does he bring that the others don’t have?

Beginnings

Thrash grew up in LaGrange, Georgia where he attended Troup County High School. His parents are Rodney Wright and Mary Thrash.

As a junior receiver, he had 1,410 yards with 13 touchdowns on 61 receptions. For his high school career, he tallied 134 receptions for 2,839 yards, a 21.2 yards per reception average, and scored 31 TDs. He also ran back 58 kickoffs in three seasons for 945 yards.

In winter months he was a point guard for the basketball team.

Thrash was named First Team All-State Class 4-A and entered his senior year as the top receiver in the State of Georgia. His senior year did not see the production as his junior season so he graduated as a three-star recruit.

He had offers from South Alabama and Georgia Tech but chose Georgia State to be close to home. There he played in three games as a freshman and was redshirted. He played sparingly in his true freshman campaign but was the starter in his sophomore and junior years. His best season was as a junior in which he had 1,122 yards on 61 catches with seven TDs and was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference as well as Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

After four seasons including a pandemic year, he entered the transfer portal and ended up at Louisville for his final year. Last season he had 63 receptions for 858 yards, a 13.6 yards per catch average, and scored six touchdowns. He was selected Second Team All-ACC.

While at Louisville, he was also a gunner on the punt return team.

He was one of the best receivers to display their talents at the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

His pre-draft measurables:

Arm length: 31”

Hand span: 8 5/8”

40 time: 4.46

10-yard split: 4.46

Three cone: 7.16

Vertical jump: 34”

Broad jump: 10’-0”

What should Browns fans expect from Thrash?

For starters, Thrash (6’-1”, 185 pounds) was the 21^st-ranked receiver in this year’s draft. He is built small and is positioned to become a prototypical slot receiver. Thrash is a good all-around athlete who has a knack for setting defenders up to create subtle separation near the sideline.

Thrash is a deep threat who can consistently get a clean release off the line of scrimmage.

WHY HE COULD SUCCEED:

Throughout his career, Thrash has been productive inside and outside as a pass receiver. Berry does as well and is the reason he drafted him. He is ultra-competitive and a good playmaker. He can gain yardage after the catch and is a finisher. He has twitch, quickness, and a toughness to his game which are traits that help receivers find their way onto the field.

WHY HE COULD FAIL:

He’s undersized and has been known to drop passes. Thrash also had a bad hand injury last year and although has recovered, sometimes injuries affect play and slow the mental process. He told ClevelandBrowns.com:

“(The hand injury) kind of slowed me up, trying to get back used to – I don’t want to say one hand – but trying to get straight back in. The hand I had surgery on, it definitely slowed me down a little bit toward the second half of the season. Just knowing what we had to do and seeing where we at in the standings, I knew that going to the ACC Championship was something that was big for us.”

The receiver’s job is catching passes. He will need development and tutelage on route running. He has not seen much press coverage and this will take time to adjust to and learn the nuances.