Cleveland Browns fans have been clamoring for their team to add wide receiver weapons for… a long time. Years and years and years of GMs and front offices passing on loaded WR draft classes to fill other positions. Even the selection of OL Joel Bitonio was bemoaned at the time, with fans hoping for a talented wide receiver (see DBN’s writeup of the Bitonio pick) to join not-yet-suspended WR Josh Gordon with QB Johnny Manziel having been drafted in the first round.
In 2026, GM Andrew Berry fulfilled
the request with two receivers selected in the top 40 of this year’s NFL draft.
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With rookie minicamp in process, we’ve seen highlights of KC Concepcion with the ball in his hands and Denzel Boston catching anything thrown his way. Obviously, the WR position is very dependent on having a quarterback willing and able to throw passes, and throw them well, so that the rookies can make plays on, but there is excitement building now that receivers were added high in a draft.
In fact, according to research on Pro Football Reference, this is the first time ever that the Browns have selected two receivers in the first 40 picks of any draft class, dating back to 1950. Only once before, in 2009 (Brian Robiski, Mohamed Massaquoi), has Cleveland added two receivers within the first two rounds of a draft, but picks 36 and 50 were used on those two.
The Browns also used two early picks on pass catchers, one WR and one TE, in 1964 by trading WR Paul Warfield and TE Billy Truax.
In 2025, TE Harold Fannin Jr. and RB Quinshon Judkins were the lone bright spots on the offense. After years of Cleveland fans clamoring for wide receivers early in an NFL draft, Berry and company delivered two of them within the first 40 picks. Concepcion and Boston need to work out on the field, but the Browns now have a chance with highly graded, highly regarded players at an exciting position, to go along with Fannin and Judkins.
How do you feel about the Browns using 2 top 40 picks at the receiver position? Are you surprised they had never done that?
Share your WR thoughts in our comment section below
