Who Should I Start? DeAndre Carter or Xavier Smith

Thursday, March 20, 1:07 PM

The Cleveland Browns signed free-agent wide receiver and return specialist DeAndre Carter (hamstring) to a one-year deal for nearly $800,000 guaranteed on Wednesday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Carter will head to the AFC North in 2025 after spending the 2024 campaign with the Chicago Bears, where he caught only nine of 14 targets for 72 yards and no touchdowns on offense over 13 games (no starts). The 31-year-old will most likely be more of an asset to the Browns on special teams as a kick returner than he will be on offense, as he hasn't had more than 46 catches, 538 yards or three touchdowns in a single season during his seven NFL seasons. Carter missed the final four games last year with a hamstring injury but should be good to go for training camp this summer. He had 17 punt returns for 158 yards and 15 kickoff returns for 479 yards for the Bears in 2024.

Saturday, August 16, 11:52 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught all four of his targets for 48 receiving yards during Saturday's preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also rushed for five yards. Smith has been quite productive this summer. He paced the team with 55 receiving yards last week, and he now has a total of eight touches and 108 scrimmage yards through two preseason contests. NFL opportunities have been few and far between for the 27-year-old Florida A&M product, but he did total six receiving yards, 36 rushing yards, and a pair of first downs in 2024. Los Angeles' first four wide receiver spots are essentially locked up, which means they only have two or three spots to divide over seven remaining receivers (Smith, Tru Edwards, Mario Williams, Konata Mumpfield, Drake Stoops, Britain Covey, and Brennan Presley).