Vince

Mayle

Mayle is currently in a soft cast after undergoing a procedure to insert a screw in his thumb. He’s doing everything at OTAs except catching the football.

There is no timetable for his return, but the injury reportedly will not affect Mayle’s availability for training camp. He will likely miss all of the offseason program. A slow-footed receiver with poor hands, Mayle is unlikely to become the passing-game weapon the Browns are desperate for.

Bowe has taken Mayle under his wing, teaching him about route-running and using his body to shield off defenders. Mayle said he models his game after another Browns wideout, Josh Gordon. “He’s a great runner,” said Mayle. "[Gordon] runs with his stride wide open, and that’s something that I wanted to pick up.” The 24-year-old has been practicing with a cast on his right thumb but is hoping he’ll have it off by the start of training camp.

A drop-prone possession receiver out of Washington State, Mayle has the appearance of a lot of opportunity in Cleveland, but we’re skeptical he’ll provide serious competition for Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Andrew Hawkins, and Taylor Gabriel. Mayle has already gotten off to a slow start, requiring thumb surgery after the draft. He’s not a compelling Dynasty league prospect.

The Browns’ fourth-round pick has been awful this preseason, showing no ability to outrun defensive backs even against second- and third-team defenses. He was flagged Thursday night for an illegal block on a 54-yard punt return by Darius Jennings, wiping out a big play. Mayle also was the intended target on a 25-yard pick six. Mayle will enter the weekend squarely on the roster bubble.

A fourth-round rookie, Mayle was labeled one of the worst picks of May’s draft, and quickly proved his detractors right by turning in an absolutely brutal preseason. A sub-par athlete, Mayle’s hands are made of marble. It’s a lethal combination for someone trying to play receiver at the highest level of football. The Browns are the worst team in the league at evaluating receiver talent.

Mayle, who never should’ve been drafted in the first place, was not even signed to the Browns’ practice squad after a horrific preseason. Mayle struggles to catch and run and is already 24 years old. He doesn’t have an NFL future.

Mayle was the No. 123 pick of the draft, but was an easy cut for the receiver-needy Browns after he (predictably) showed nothing in the summer. We doubt he ever gets the call to the Cowboys’ 53-man roster.

It’s not a surprise. Mayle was a drop machine in the Pac 12, and only recently resumed catching passes after recovering from a broken pinkie. A pedestrian athlete, Mayle isn’t going to make an impact even in a sorry Browns wideout corps.

Mayle was in a cast all spring, but has shed it for training camp. He played through the injury his senior season at Washington State, dropping a boatload of passes in the process. There are targets for the taking in Cleveland, but a slow-footed possession receiver, we’re skeptical Mayle will take them.