Cleveland Browns add Mik'Quane Dean to help tight ends, waive Blake Jackson, which is about special teams

The Cleveland Browns announced they signed Mik'Quane Dean, an undrafted tight end out of Western Kentucky and waived Blake Jackson, a college quarterback that has converted into a slot receiver. This move has a few moving parts involved.

First, Blake Jackson didn't get waived because he's a bad receiver. He got waived because he's not someone who is going to be a core special teams player. Any receiver who isn't named Odell Beckham, Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins or Antonio Callaway, making plays as a a pass catcher is a good quality to have, but they need players who will be able to operate on special teams, particularly as gunners.

The Browns can theoretically bring Jackson back, but there are few opportunities for him in any meaningful way as a Cleveland Brown. He could find a way to compete for and make a roster elsewhere, because he has shown some flashes to make plays.

The reps to watch when it comes to watching which receivers will land the fifth and presumably sixth receiver spots are on punt. And that could favor players with more size, strength and raw speed.

Mik'Quane Dean was brought in because both Seth DeValve and Demetrius Harris are out with concussions. Dean profiles in the exact same way as DeValve and Steve Carlson do. He's a really athletic, oversized receiver that has some experience in space and as an H-back, who showcased some excellent production for the Hilltoppers. Dean is trying to find a role in the same vein as DeValve.

Much like when the Browns added A.J. Oullette, so much of this move is about getting another body so they can practice without running guys like David Njoku and Pharaoh Brown into the ground, but Dean does have the athletic profile and production to suggest he has a shot to make a roster and contribute, which is always a good thing.

Oullette has had an opportunity to make some plays and showcase himself for the rest of the league. Dean will be doing the same, but he might have a better shot to impress and ultimately stay on the roster or be a prime target for the practice squad.

After recording this, Blake Jackson tweeted out the following

Remember The Name
I was released today by the Browns due to a Knee injury that will put me out 6 weeks. For anyone who knows me knows that my journey has always been filled with hardships. This will not define me and will not be the end of me . This is All apart of Gods Plan pic.twitter.com/lrsubRJ00A
— Blake Jackson (@BHunchoJack) August 2, 2019

So the timing now was about a knee injury. Nevertheless, ultimately it seemed Jackson would find himself on the outside looking in for the reasons discussed above. When he gets over the knee injury, he will hopefully be afforded to catch on elsewhere as he looked the part of someone that could contribute for a team in the slot.