Jordan Akins wanted to go somewhere he knew he'd be comfortable when he entered this offseason as a free agent, and picking a spot where he knew the quarterback well seemed to be his easiest option.
The Browns offered that with Deshaun Watson.
Akins knew all about Watson after playing with him his first three NFL seasons in Houston. He enjoyed catching passes thrown from his excellent arm, and he had seen himself how his sharp scrambling ability could extend plays and keep the offense on the field.
That familiarity made Akins feel at home the moment he visited Cleveland.
"I can say yes to that," Akins said when asked if Watson's presence influenced his decision. "I was looking to be somewhere that I was wanted and had great team camaraderie. When I got here and I came to visit here, it was a perfect fit for me.
"And like I said, I'm reunited with Deshaun, and it's a good thing."
Check out the best photos from all the action at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as the Browns go through organized team activities
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) and Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) with Stay in the Game Guests from Akron Public Schools after OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski speaks to the team after OTA 3 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 25, 2023.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (27) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod (26) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) with Stay in the Game Guests from Akron Public Schools after OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Browns Give Back invited local high school coaches to practice during OTA 3 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 25, 2023.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (74) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Safety Tanner McCalister (48) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Cornerback Chris Westry (49) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Stay in the Game Guests from Akron Public Schools during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski meets with local high school coaches after practice during OTA 3 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 25, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (28) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (69) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) and Adapted Football League guests after OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) after OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during OTA 2 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 24, 2023.
Kicker Cade York (3) and Adapted Football League guests after OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) and Adapted Football League guests after OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
The offense during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Adapted Football League guests during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod (26) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (19) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (28) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (28) and Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) during OTA 1 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 23, 2023.
The Browns wanted to supply Watson with another big tight end who could do damage in the red zone, and Akins met the criteria even without the experience with his former teammate.
Akins, who's 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, is coming off his best season last year in Houston. He led the Texans with five touchdowns, three of which were scored from inside the 20-yard line, and his 495 receiving yards were his highest in a season since he was drafted by the Texans in the third round in 2018.
Watson was Akins' quarterback for the next three years. While Akins wasn't the featured tight end, he still contributed in big ways, catching 90 of 129 targets for 1,046 yards and three touchdowns in that span.
"I want to pick up where we left off in Houston," he said. "Deshaun, we had great chemistry, and I like the way he plays the game. The play is always alive when he's on the field, and I love to play with a quarterback like that."
The Browns are looking to add more flavor to their pass game, which has best been exemplified by the speedy receiving additions of Elijah Moore and Marquise Goodwin and the selection of Cedric Tillman, a tall receiver from Tennessee, in the third round of the draft.
Akins believes he can help the Browns diversify their options, too, and is craving the chance to better display his skills in a different offense.
"I feel like it's a great opportunity, being reunited with Deshaun and being able to get a different route tree," he said. "In Houston, I was kind of labeled as a catch and run tight end in the flat, but here I'm more down the field. I get to show off my athleticism, in and out of cuts and catch it after the run as well."
Akins' presence should help his other new teammates get used to playing with a QB of Watson's style.
The Browns needed time last year to adjust to Watson's mobility in his six games, and those adjustments included receivers becoming accustomed to going off-script and getting open when Watson was scrambling. Blockers also needed to be more patient, too, and stick to their blocks longer to give Watson time to create more space.
Akins has been through those drills before with Watson and understands how reps will help everyone else learn how to navigate off-script plays.
"That's what OTAs is for, trying to get the rhythm down," he said. "We're trying to get the way he plays the game, and luckily I've been with him for three years, so I kind of know how to maneuver when he makes certain moves. But as a team, I think we'll be fine."
That's a lot easier for someone to say when they know who the quarterback is, too.
"It's a big help," he said. "Deshaun knows me. I know Deshaun."
