The 2025 Cleveland Browns finished #30 in offense. Their passing offense ranked #31. Part of the reason was that for most of the season, this unit was run by two rookie quarterbacks.
But also, the receiver room was horrible. At season’s end, this group ranked #32 in the league. That’s dead last for those keeping score. The year before, this group ranked #31.
When your leading receiver is a tight end, you know the offense is in trouble. So, a fix is needed. The Browns either need to spend a ton of money
on an accomplished veteran receiver in free agency or select at least two in April’s NFL draft.
Enter Malachi Fields of Notre Dame. He was sensational this week at the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl. The defensive line and receiver groups wore the top hats from the week. Fields clearly was the eminent receiver.
The Senior Bowl is a great place to see up close some blue-chip talent, along with guys who will be available in the mid-rounds that could help this roster. Would anyone really care if the Browns cleaned house with the receiver room and started over?
Fields isn’t a WR1, but he clearly is that second receiver option. Big kid with a long reach. His career stats at Virginia and Notre Dame include 2,479 receiving yards, 165 receptions, 19 touchdowns, and an awesome 17.5 yards per reception average.
He could come in and start Day 1 or sit and further develop for next season. But his talents can help Cleveland this upcoming year under new head coach Todd Monken, as he would make an immediate impact. Fields showed that he has a huge catch radius.
Dawgs by Nature staff writer Barry Shuck was at the Senior Bowl this week. He interviewed Fields during the practice week.
WR Malachi Fields (6’-4”, 222 pounds)
Notre Dame
Projection: Round 3
——————————————————————————————-
Shuck: You are a big-bodied receiver who can do it all. What do you need to improve on?
Fields: To dominate the competition better and build more confidence in myself. Communicate and work as a unit better. Doing box drills, focusing on getting out in three steps.
Shuck: You played four seasons at Virginia, then transferred to Notre Dame last year. What were you wanting to gain?
Fields: I was hoping to boost my draft stock just by playing on a bigger stage. And also, just getting out of Charlottesville (Va.), which is my hometown and where I went to high school. I definitely accomplished that, being that dog with the goal to show that I can go up for contested catches and make the big plays down the field.
Shuck: Where does getting separation play into your game?
Fields: I work on that every day. I do a pretty good job of creating separation. There are things that I definitely can do better, especially when you’re up against the best. Here this week at the Senior Bowl, they have brought in some of the best defensive backs, and I have shown I am a top receiver and a good technician. I work on getting back to the quarterback so I’m able to create that separation. I want to build and go get paid.
Shuck: How do you use your size to be an effective weapon on the outside?
Fields: Really, I am able to use my body to grab contested catches and be more physical than my defender. I try to be first off the ground and get that good first step to snatch the ball out of the air. And I have really good timing to know when to start the jump. I use that size and my feet to get separation at the top of my route. I have the mindset that when the ball is in the air and not waiting for it to drop down, but going up at its highest point, and attacking the ball. I go back to my center field days and have a lot of experience tracking the ball. When the ball’s in the air, you kinda get a judge for it, and over the years, teach your body how to adjust.
Shuck: How are your downfield blocking skills?
Fields: That is something I take pride in. I come from a program that had two great running backs in the backfield, so picking up a key block can spring a runner for a touchdown, and missing my block can make it a minimal gain instead. One thing I want to think about is the splits. The splits are a little bit different from what we had in college with the hashes.
Shuck: All of the Senior Bowl coaches are current NFL coaches. What advice have you picked up from them?
Fields: Mainly where to line up, getting the call, and getting back to the huddle fast. It comes from signals to huddling every play. It’s a bit of a shift.
Shuck: Are there any advantages to starting to play football late in your life?
Fields: Sometimes I think there are so many disadvantages, but I am a fast learner and love to play. I enjoy playing offensive line rather than another position because I am in a family up front, and we depend upon each other. Other positions don’t have that. I trust the process, and I am patient. God has placed people in my life to steer me to where I am now.
Shuck: What is the story, and you being a snapping turtle hunter?
Fields: That is something I have done since childhood. It was just something else to do while fishing, which I love to do. My dad used to take my little brother and me to a small lake in Charlottesville. That continued into high school and college. I’m not a fisherman, I’m an angler. My go-to is a bait caster rod, and I use a Senko bait or swimbait. I mainly bass fish. I like the beauty and the calmness of nature. I grew up watching shows like Steve Irwin. Once the turtle is caught on the fishing line, you grab him by the tail, lift him up, and then place your hand on the bottom. He can’t bite you because his head is only so long, and he can’t reach around. The trick is to never put any part of your body near his head. The first one I ever caught was about 25-30 pounds. I trusted what I saw in those videos of how to deal with a snapping turtle.
Shuck: Word is you are a big gamer. What games do you play?
Fields: I play a bunch of different games like Apex, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Brawl Hollow, Rocket League, and I just got the new Battlefield. I stay away from the sports games except the PGA. I like the golf game. That one’s fun and smooth. I’m on the 2K. I’ve won two majors but not the Masters.
Shuck: You were a high school track star?
Fields: I enjoyed track, basketball, and baseball. I did just about every event in track. My best event was the triple and long jump. I gave up basketball when I got to high school so that I could focus on track.
