The Cleveland Browns had the worst receiver room in the NFL
last year. Literally. Dead last.Even Cleveland’s best receiver, Jerry Jeudy, had an off-season after gathering his first Pro Bowl the season before.
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Browns GM Andrew Berry has not hit on the receivers that he has selected in the NFL drafts since he took over in 2020. He has taken six receivers, with two being in the third round. Jamari Thrash and Cedric Tillman are the only ones still on the roster.
The assumption
and rumors to solve the receiver room was that Berry would trade for a seasoned veteran. He has orchestrated a trade three times, with success on two. Another assumption is that Cleveland will take a receiver in April’s NFL draft. The Browns own the #6 and #24 picks in Round 1, the seventh spot in Round 2 at #39, pick #70 in Round 3, and the #107 slot in Round 4.
Receiver prospects that should be available at each of these draft slots include:
- Round 1, pick #6: Carnell Tate – Ohio State; Jordan Tyson – Arizona State
- Round 1, pick #24: Denzel Boston – Washington; KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
- Round 2, pick #39: Omar Cooper – Indiana; Chris Brazzell – Tennessee
- Round 3, pick #70: Elijah Sarratt – Indiana; Antonio Williams – Clemson
- Round 4, pick #107: Brenen Thompson – Mississippi State; Josh Cameron – Baylor
Will Berry take a young receiver in the draft again? Will he make the correct decision, or will his selection eventually be tossed into the recycle bin like the others? Can he break his inability to select a good receiver for this new offense?
In the interim, Berry signed Tylan Wallace (5’-11”, 200 pounds) in the second phase of free agency. Who is he? What does he offer the Browns?
Beginnings
Wallace grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and went to South Hills High School. At the time, he was 6’-0” and weighed 179 pounds. Another thing, Wallace has a twin brother Tracin. Wallace played baseball, receiver in football, and was a track star. In his senior year, he gained 1,459 yards on 59 receptions with 20 touchdowns and a 17.3 yards per catch average. His twin brother played quarterback and was an amazing player, earning 7-5A Offensive MVP in 2014. The following year, Tylan was named 7-5A Offensive MVP and earned First Team All-State honors. The boys were invited to play in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game. The pair was also an academic All-State honoree and part of the AB Honor Roll.
Tylan participated in track. He ran the 100 meters (best: 11.14), 200 meters (22.02), 4×100 relay (42.74), 4×200 relay (1:29.09), 4×400 relay (3.34.8), long jump (22’, 1.5”), and the triple jump (46’, 8.75”).
Both athletes had offers from Middle Tennessee, Oklahoma, Virginia, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Washington, Arizona State, Notre Dame, FIU, North Texas, Michigan, Maryland, SMU, Houston, Texas, and Tulsa. Tylan was clocked at 4.49 in the 40.
In football, the twins committed to Oklahoma State after graduating from high school with identical 3.8 GPAs. All throughout their high school days, they never missed a single day, but on the field were well-known for being ultra competitive but with high character.
These were boys who did everything together and didn’t mind each other’s company. In fact, it was expected. They were raised by their single mom, Mandi Moore.
Tylan played all 13 games as a freshman instead of redshirting. He played mainly on special teams as the punt returner. He busted out in his sophomore season as he started all 13 games and had 86 receptions for 1,491 yards with 12 TDs and a 17.3 average yards per catch. His total yardage led the conference. With his high production, he was named First Team All-Big 12, First Team All-American, plus a Biletnikoff finalist.
He was having a good year in his junior campaign when he suffered a torn ACL in a practice session in early November. He only played nine games before the injury ended his season. Wallace finished with 53 receptions for 903 yards and eight scores. He was chosen Second Team All-Big 12.
Wallace rebounded in his senior year with 59 catches for 922 yards and six touchdowns. His total yardage led the conference. He was voted First Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-American.
On to the NFL
Today, twin brother Tracin is an assistant coach for Oklahoma State. While at Oklahoma State, he sustained several injuries that ended his football career.
Tylan Wallace, however, was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft and signed a four-year $4.2 million deal. He began his rookie year on special teams and had two kickoff returns, playing in all 17 games.
The following season, he ended up on IR twice, the first was for a hamstring injury, and the second was re-aggravating that hammy. In his third season, he played in three games, then pulled a hamstring again. He was later activated, and in Week 14, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a punt return to beat the Los Angeles Rams in overtime 37-31. He only had one reception all year for 11 yards.
In 2024, Wallace had his first full season as he played in all 17 games with zero starts, 12 targets, 11 catches for 193 yards, a 17.3 yards per reception average, and scored his first (and only) NFL receiving touchdown.
Last year, he played in 14 games with just two starts, and caught a mere four balls for 45 yards with a lone TD.
In his four years with Baltimore, Wallace had 12 punt returns for 194 yards, a 16.2 yards per return average, and scored once. He also returned eight kickoffs for 687 yards, a 23.5-yard per return average, and had zero scores. His receiving stats are minimal for four years: 35 targets, 22 receptions, 305 yards, two touchdowns, 13 first down conversions, an 11.3 yards per catch average, 0 rushing attempts/yards, and two drops.
The Browns inked Wallace to a one-year deal worth $2.1 million with $1.35 million guaranteed. Did Berry sign Wallace as strictly a return man? He is a former track star, so he has speed and quickness. And in high school and college, when they threw to him often, he showed he could produce and elevate stats. Plus, he is a really good downfield blocker.
But in the NFL, he hasn’t really done much of anything special.
Wallace has good hands with speed as his superpower. He played in an Air Raid offense while at Oklahoma State, so he is used to catching a ton of passes, but for whatever reason, the Ravens barely utilized his skills as a receiver. He has familiarity with the new Browns head coach, Todd Monken, so the signing becomes clear as to why he was signed.
However, his production numbers in the league aren’t good in any year. He is very competitive and will contest balls effectively. He is an excellent ball tracker. But it’s just not clear why Baltimore – and Monken – didn’t use him much on offense. If he comes to Cleveland as strictly a returner, then so be it. Maybe, he will be utilized with a specific role in Monken’s new offense. Maybe not.
His X account is @officialtylan2, while his Instagram is @tylanw2, and his TikTok is @.tylenwallace.
