Now that the offseason is in full swing with the beginning of the new league year
, free agency has gone through the first wave and now into the second wave, and NFL draft analysis and preparation are in full swing.The draft process for the Cleveland Browns isn’t just a 30-day process as free agency begins to dwindle. It is a year-long progression that involves a ton of folks within the Cleveland organization.
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This year’s NFL draft is slated for April
23-25. The first round will commence on Thursday, April 23. The Browns have two first-round picks at #6 and #24 and should be able to fill a pair of crucial needs just in the initial round alone.
A lot has been written about the potential prospects available for each of these spots.
Do the Browns take an offensive tackle? What about a stud offensive guard? The best safety in the draft? A pass-rushing demon to pair with Myles Garrett (if Garrett is still a part of the long-term plan)? A game-changing running back?
After the 2025 season had concluded, the two areas identified as the greatest need were offensive line and receiver. The offensive line was ranked #31 in the league.
Not to be outdone, Cleveland’s receiver room was ranked #32. Dead last.
Fast forward to after the first two weeks of the free agency period. GM Andrew Berry signed OG Zion Johnson, C/OG/OT Elgton Jenkins, OG Teven Jenkins, and traded for OT Tytus Howard. Currently, all of these new guys are listed on the depth chart alongside LT Dawand Jones. Apparently, this will be the starting five at the beginning of training camp.
Is the offensive line finished? Did Berry solve all of their issues with these four signings? Perhaps. And just maybe, Berry will draft one or two more for this group either as starting material or as quality depth.
Next up, what did Berry do with the receiver room?
Well, he inked one guy: Tylan Wallace from the Baltimore Ravens. Except that Wallace is more of a return man than he was used as a receiver while with the Ravens. He caught a ton of balls in high school and college, but since being drafted in the fourth round, his pro stats have been abysmal 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.
Safe to say, this isn’t a receiver solve, but a special teams problem resolved.
Are the Browns really going to go into the 2026 season with Jerry Jeudy, Jamari Thrash, Ced Tillman, and Isaiah Bond? Throw in Luke Floriea, Gage Larvadain, and Isaiah Wooden.
What about this strategy? What if Berry selected WR Carnell Tate of Ohio State with the sixth pick in Round 1, and then, when the #24 selection rolls around, what if he took WR KC Concepcion from Texas A&M?
No, really. Double dipping. Would that work? Would that solve the problem with the team’s worst position group?
Berry is well-known for making trades for receivers. He struck gold with Amari Cooper from the Dallas Cowboys, struck out with former New York Jets receiver Elijah Moore, and has had decent success with Jerry Jeudy, the former Denver Bronco.
The reason Berry has had to resort to trading for veteran receivers is that he hasn’t had any luck drafting any. In fact, except for last year’s draft, he has chosen a receiver in every single draft he has been in charge of since he took over that aspect beginning in 2020.
2020: Round 6 – Donovan Peoples-Jones
2021: Round 3 – Anthony Schwartz
2022: Round 3 – David Bell
Round 6 – Michael Woods
2023: Round 3 – Cedric Tillman
2024: Round 5 – Jamari Thrash
Which of these receivers keeps defensive coordinators up at night? Only two are still on Cleveland’s roster, and Thrash has been released once and then re-signed. Tillman has just 19 starts in 51 possible games. The remainder are no longer in football.
In all fairness, Berry was crippled on draft day by sending all of those first and second-round draft picks to the Houston Texans in the Deshaun Watson trade. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Cleveland didn’t have a first-round pick. In 2022 and 2023, the team was devoid of a second-round selection.
That is five highly valued draft picks missing. At the same time, Houston went from a team that had only won four games to winning their division two years in a row. Meanwhile, during this same time span, the Browns lost 26 games in two seasons and are picking in the Top-6 two years in a row.
And now, Cleveland has two first-round picks in the same draft.
Are there still holes to fill? Of course. Would the #6 or #24 spot fill the void of needing another safety, or a pass-rushing stud on the corner, or another tackling machine at linebacker, or perhaps a good left tackle that isn’t going to end up on IR all year again?
Yes, to all.
But just for one moment, come down to this reality: Let’s solve this receiver situation once and for all without having to shop at the second-hand store. The Browns have the opportunity to go shopping at the big department store downtown. Make a selection without having to check the balance in their checking account first. Spend the money, and spend it wisely.
In the first round, select a receiver with both draft picks, Mr. Berry. We Browns’ fans are tired of hand-me-downs. We want a stud we can be proud of, that will elevate the passing game and stretch the defense. In fact, we want two of those guys. Now. This year. Take the first round picks and blow them on a single position.
Berry is capable of doing just that – take two receivers in the first round. In 2021, he took two linebackers: JOK and Tony Fields. In the 2022 draft, he chose two DEs, Alex Wright and Isaiah Thomas, and he also selected two WRs: Bell and Woods. And last year, Berry took two RBs with Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, then took two QBs: Dillon Gabriel plus Shedeur Sanders.
So, Berry is familiar with how double-dipping operates. And so far, he hasn’t traded for a veteran receiver like he did three years in a row.
If Berry did use both first-round picks on a duo of receivers, who should he take? Here are a couple of options at each spot
Pick #6
Carnell Tate (6’-2”, 192 pounds)
Ohio State
40 speed: 4.53
Accolades: National Champion, First Team All-Big 10, Second Team All-American, First Team All-Academic All-American, Two-time Academic All-Big 10
Tate is the most obvious at the sixth overall spot. On NFL draft sites, he is generally ranked between #3 and #9, depending on the site. His speed isn’t blinding, but with his crisp routes and ability to find soft spots, he doesn’t have to be. Tate has a 3.50 GPA.
He is being compared to George Pickens of the Dallas Cowboys and is from a school that regularly spits out quality receivers.
Scouting report on CBS Sports:
“Tate’s experience lining up wide and thriving along the sidelines, paired with his very good speed and excellent hands, develops effectiveness in contested catch situations. Tate still has room to grow in mastering the route tree, adding good weight, and developing precise timing within whichever offense he lands in. He also appears to have a calm personality. Tate became a two-year starter for the Buckeyes beginning in 2024. He loves playing football. Tate pairs elite body control and contested-catch ability with excellent hands, giving him a high floor and true #1 upside in the NFL.”
Pick #6
Makai Lemon (5’-11”, 192 pounds)
USC
Accolades: Honorable Mention All-Big 10, Third Team All-Big 10 Return Specialist
Lemon is ranked around the #10-#12 slots, but Berry just might like him better, and four spots isn’t exactly a reach. He is also a kickoff return man. He is able to work cornerbacks out of position and win jump balls.
Scouting report on The Ringer:
“Lemon makes up for his below-average height with outsize levels of dog at the catch point, combining body control, toughness, and concentration to bring down balls that he has no business corralling. He sports a compact, muscular frame and runs routes with lightning-quick feet to stop and cut on a dime. Lemon operates primarily out of the slot, showing a good feel for zone and when to take a route into the open space. He turns into a running back after the catch, flashing the top-tier acceleration and lateral juice to make tacklers miss in small areas. He broke 21 tackles in 2025. There are times when he gets rerouted and held up at the line when facing bigger, stronger corners. He shows good effort, but his lack of bulk limits his utility as a blocker.”
Pick #24
Omar Cooper, Jr. (6’-0”, 199 pounds)
Indiana
40 speed: 4.5
Accolades: National Champion, Second Team All-Big 10
Lemon has outstanding ball skills and secures it tightly. Reliable hands in traffic and is a willing blocker. He doesn’t take reps off and is dangerous in space.
Scouting report on Yahoo! Sports:
“Cooper’s contact balance and ball skills lead to exciting and explosive plays. He is a tough runner with burst, and it feels like the first tackler never brings him down. There is some rigidity with his movement, but he is a strong player who can keep his feet going and find ways to create a few yards with the ball in his hands. His hand-eye coordination is also an asset and makes him a valid weapon in the red zone and in contested situations. He primarily worked from the slot, but has some strong reps on the outside. He, at the very least, looks like he can be a strong inside option that can moonlight on the outside, too.”
Pick #24
Kevin “KC” Concepcion (6’-0”, 196 pounds)
Texas A&M
40 speed: 4.46
Accolades: Consensus All-American, Three-time First Team All-SEC, Hornung Award winner, Second Team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Year (2023)
Concepcion is a beast in the receiver room with speed and great acceleration. Natural feet and opens his hips to the quarterback quickly. Bonus return specialist as a punt returner. Has legitimate deep speed with good vision.
Scouting report on The Athletic:
“Concepcion showcases average size but excels in traffic situations and displays exceptional snatch-and-go ability. Known for his physicality and big-play potential, he brings versatility to the field by lining up in various positions, including the slot and occasionally in the backfield. While he has demonstrated strong acceleration and effective change-of-direction abilities, there are areas he needs to work on, such as reducing drops, refining his route-running, and avoiding unnecessary contact. His ability to manipulate defensive leverage and win after the catch makes him a standout player.”
What do you think about the Browns taking two receivers in the first round? Which two would you want them to select if they did?
Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below
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