Although there aren’t many big names leaving in free agency, the Browns need to address some areas on their roster. Over the offseason, I will be evaluating the state of the Browns’ biggest positions of need and suggest additions for the 2024 season. In this article, I’m going to discuss the wide receivers, given the uncertainty that looms beyond the upcoming season. Now, let’s take a look at the candidates who should be on the Browns’ list of possible wide receiver additions.
Who is leaving?
These are the wide receivers that are set to become free agents this offseason (Name (offensive snaps/special teams snaps)):
- Marquise Goodwin (122/0)
- James Proche (59/117)
- Jakeem Grant (0/0)
These players accounted for only 5.6% of wide receiver snaps and 1.7% of receiving production last season. While they aren’t resembling big losses for the receiving core, the Browns should still consider adding to the group in 2024 for long-term planning. Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, the Browns’ top two receivers, are entering contract years next season, potentially creating future voids. Beyond 2024, only Cedric Tillman, David Bell, and Michael Woods are under contract. Cleveland has made substantial offensive coaching changes, indicating a somewhat different offensive approach next season. We’ve already witnessed some changes with Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback late last season. With a healthy Deshaun Watson and a reinforced pass catching group, I’d expect the Browns to build on that in 2024.
Free Agent Targets
The Browns currently have a cap space of -$19.622.046, making it unlikely to add one of the top free agents. They already have their number 1 guy in Cooper, who could potentially receive a short-term extension to reduce his cap hit. While the idea of him teaming up with players like Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, or Michael Pittman Jr. is enticing, their limited cap space could be used more efficiently. That being said, here are my potential free agent wide receiver additions for the Browns this offseason!
1. Marquise Brown (Arizona Cardinals) (Dream Scenario)
Marquise Brown, a former first-round pick by the Ravens, is a smaller but lightning fast receiver with quick feet, allowing him to beat defensive backs off the line of scrimmage. He effectively utilizes his speed, demonstrating the ability to throttle down and remain in timing with his quarterback. His explosiveness and top speed make him a dangerous deep threat while also enabling him to create separation in the intermediate range. Brown is a sure-handed target and especially dangerous when schemed open or facing off-coverage. Furthermore, he displays good body control adjusting to throws and completing catches through contact. However, Brown encounters challenges against physical cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage, struggling to fight through heavy contact. Another potential concern is his body language on the field as he regularly shows visible frustration when not targeted and minimal effort in the run game.
Currently, none of the Browns’ receivers have managed to establish themselves as a clear-cut number two weapon. In my opinion, filling that void would be a best case scenario. Elijah Moore has shown promise and could still break out at only 23 years old in a contract year. However, adding Marquise Brown would give Cleveland one of the league’s best number 2 receivers (actually more of a 1B). During his two seasons in Arizona, Brown only played 11 games with his college quarterback Kyler Murray, resulting in somewhat disappointing production. We’ve seen several receivers signing relatively cheap short-term deals, positioning themselves for another big payday. I’d estimate that one-year deal for Brown could range somewhere between 9 to 12 million dollars. Although this wouldn’t provide a long-term solution, it could be a win-win situation for both Deshaun Watson and Marquise Brown to get their careers back on track.
2. Darnell Mooney (Chicago Bears)
Mooney shares many similarities with Marquise Brown as a fast but undersized receiver. Despite being a long strider for his size, he’s still able to get in and out of breaks quickly. While his long speed may not be considered elite, it’s very good and he fits the profile of a deep threat. Although yards after catch aren’t the focus of his game, Mooney can make people miss in open space. He offers the versatility to line up both inside and outside, but I prefer him playing on the perimeter. Despite his size, Mooney is a willing blocker in the run game and demonstrated durability throughout his young NFL career. Mooney encounters challenges navigating through traffic over the middle, particularly when faced with physical press coverage. Additionally, his footwork isn’t quite as nimble as Brown’s, making it more challenging for him to beat cornerbacks right off the line.
Darnell Mooney’s recent season in Chicago included a diminishing role, largely due to the arrival of DJ Moore. Additionally, the Bears drafted Tyler Scott in 2023, who will have an increasing role as their deep threat going forward. These moves cast Mooney as the odd man out, and he may seek a similar prove-it deal as Brown. A one-year contract might be a little cheaper, estimated at around 7-9 million dollars, though a longer-term agreement could be also possible. In essence, this would be a relatively cheap move with high upside, adding another starting caliber receiver. While not as flashy as acquiring Brown, signing Mooney might be a more realistic option among potential wide receiver additions for the Browns.
3. Curtis Samuel (Washington Commanders)
Curtis Samuel got a little overshadowed by a very talented receiving unit during his tenure in Washington. They primarily deployed him as a short-area target, utilizing his ability to gain yards after the catch. Samuel possesses legitimate 4.3-speed to elude defenders in open space and the power to run through most corners and safeties. While he didn’t receive many deep looks in Washington, there’s no evidence suggesting he won’t fit that role when given the opportunity. Samuel can be utilized as a versatile chess piece on gadget plays, screens, or even as a backfield option. It’s worth noting that he isn’t the most polished route runner, exhibiting some stiffness in his breaks. However, he excels on “run-away” routes over the middle, where he can outrun cornerbacks. While he may not fit the clear-cut number two role, Samuel could add an exciting dimension to complement Cooper, Moore and Tillman.
At only 27 years old, Samuel brings a lot of experience as he enters his 8th NFL season in 2024. Since his rookie year in 2017, he hasn’t played on a team with a winning record, making it likely that he’d prefer to join a contender. While Cleveland fits that bill, there may be more attractive options available to him. It’s worth mentioning that Samuel has ties to Ohio, having spent his entire three-year college career at Ohio State. He’s certainly an intriguing player, but not the difference maker that would justify a hefty contract. Nonetheless, if the Browns can get him for around $7 million or potentially on a longer-term deal, I’d be all for signing him.
Honorable Mentions
K.J. Osborn (Minnesota Vikings)
K.J. is a well balanced receiver who doesn’t blow you away in any particular aspect of his game. While he can create separation through his route running, you don’t really want him going up against a team’s top cornerback. In Minnesota, he has consistently performed as the WR3, recording over 500 receiving yards each of the past three seasons. However, he’s coming off his worst year as a pro yet in which he really struggled with drops. Due to Osborn’s capped ceiling, I would estimate his price tag to be around 4-5 million dollars. While he may not play a key role in the Browns’ offense, he’d certainly add depth to the room and should see the field in a rotational capacity.
D.J. Chark (Carolina Panthers)
If the Browns want a player to replicate Marquise Goodwin’s specific role, D.J. Chark is their guy. He possesses an impressive blend of size and speed, making him an excellent target on deep shots. However, expecting much more from him might be unrealistic. Chark looks pretty stiff in his routes, and doesn’t pose as a threat after the catch. He also struggled with drops in the past season and displayed limited sideline awareness, often leaving his quarterback with little room for inaccuracies or failing to keep both feet in bounds. He recently played on one-year contracts with Detroit and Carolina but hasn’t been able to secure a long-term deal. Should Cleveland make the vertical passing game an offensive priority this season, Chark could be among the top choices of potential affordable wide receiver additions for the Browns.
Draft targets
As I mentioned earlier, the Browns have a pressing long-term need at the wide receiver position. In the past, Andrew Berry demonstrated that he prefers to address positional needs ahead of time. Consequently, I’d expect the Browns to make somewhat of a big investment in the draft considering their limited capital. If that is indeed the plan, it’s unlikely that they’d spend a lot of money in free agency as well. While it’s not impossible to envision them signing a player like Brown or Mooney and investing in a second-round pick, it’s not the most likely option. Therefore, I’ve narrowed down the draft targets to players projected to be selected within the first three rounds, without requiring a significant trade-up. Here are my choices for wide receiver additions in the Draft for the Browns:
1. Xavier Worthy (Texas) (Dream Scenario)
At 6’1” and 172 lbs., Xavier Worthy will be a polarizing player in this year’s draft. While comparing him to DeVonta Smith would set unrealistic expectations, I see a lot of similarities in their games. Both players are buttery smooth movers with the ability to shift gears in their routes to create separation and provide their quarterbacks with easy targets. Worthy is already a polished route runner, showcasing his ability to run the entire route tree during his collegiate career. He can win at any level of the field, and despite his slender build, presented impressive body control adjusting to balls mid-air. Additionally, he can outrun any defensive back on deep throws and displayed exceptional ball-tracking skills. His remarkable elusiveness with the ball in his hands make him a threat after the catch and a dangerous punt returner.
While Worthy has to clean up concentration drops and improve his spatial awareness on the sideline, he provides a skillset that should seamlessly transition to the next level. Despite only turning 21 in April, he already played three full seasons at Texas, with around 100 targets in each. Some teams will be deterred by his size, but history has shown that players with similar physical profiles can succeed in the modern NFL. Predicting where wide receivers will land in this draft is challenging due to the abundance of talented prospects. Perhaps Cleveland might be fortunate enough for Worthy to fall to the 55th pick, but it’s more likely that they’d need to trade up a few spots to get him. Overall, I think he would be an excellent complement to the Browns’ current receivers and a true difference maker in the passing game.
2. Tez Walker (North Carolina)
Walker is the textbook definition of a deep-threat receiver, as most of his production came from throws 20+ yards down the field. He can absolutely fly, and at 6’2” and 200 lbs., he has the size to fight through physical coverage. Additionally, he demonstrated his ability to beat corners off the line with just his release. He has a natural ability to track the ball in the air and can win in contested catch situations. However, during his time at North Carolina, his repertoire of routes was somewhat limited, primarily featuring go routes and curls. He had the opportunity to change that perception at the Senior Bowl but struggled during both practices and the game. While these struggles raise concerns, they shouldn’t overshadow his potential as a highly talented athlete who could evolve his game in the NFL.
The Browns have been in search of a true deep threat for some time now, with players like Anthony Schwartz or Marquise Goodwin not really filling that role effectively. While there are some question marks in Walker’s game, being a deep threat is definitely not one of them. I believe he could make an immediate impact in that capacity and hopefully develop his skillset along the way. Having someone like Cooper staying in Cleveland would provide Walker with an excellent mentor, particularly in terms of route running. Barring Walker blowing up the combine, it seems realistic fot the Browns to get him with the 55th pick.
3. Jermaine Burton (Alabama)
Burton stands out as a crafty and sure-handed receiver who spend time at two of the nations most prolific programs, Alabama and Georgia. He recorded only 4 drops on nearly 200 targets throughout his career and displayed impressive flashes in contested catch situations. While Burton may not possess game-changing speed like the previous prospects, he is fast enough to keep corners honest. He can drop his hips and turn on a dime, which makes him an ideal target in the intermediate range and for timing routes. However, as Alabama’s number 1 receiver, he struggled to consistently make an impact in every game, especially against top-tier competition like Georgia and Michigan in this year’s playoffs. Additionally, I believe his 40-time at the combine will considerably influence his draft stock.
Burton already shares a connection with the Browns through his former offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees, who has been named the team’s tight ends coach. While he probably won’t be a number 1 receiver, pairing him with Tillman would indicate a vision for the future. Burton’s draft stock won’t benefit from the depth of this year’s class, possibly causing him to slide down the board. If the Browns opt to address a different position, such as defensive tackle, in the second round, there’s a reasonable chance they can still pick up Burton with the 86th selection.
Honorable Mentions
Jalen McMillan (Washington)
McMillan was a part of arguably the best wide receiver trio in college football last season at Washington. Due to the presence of Ja’Lynn Polk and Rome Odunze, he spent the majority of his snaps in the slot. However, he presented matchup problems for most nickel corners, and I believe he could hold up on the perimeter at the next level. While his long speed is respectable, he is definitely quicker than fast. McMillan was dealing with a knee injury for a significant portion of the 2023 season, but managed to return for the playoffs. Given the influence of recency bias, I believe the injury may have slightly impacted his draft stock. While he might not be there quite yet, he definitely has WR2 upside in the future. Considering his profile, McMillan should be an option to consider with the 86th pick.
Malachi Corley (Western Kentucky)
Malachi Corley is a favorite among NFL fans due to his abilities after the catch. There’s an undeniable Deebo Samuel-like quality to his game, as he’s built like a running back with great contact balance and appears to find another gear with the ball in his hands. That’s even more impressive, considering that he weighed a mere 167 pounds coming out of high school as a cornerback. However, he didn’t face top-tier competition at Western Kentucky, and translating his performance directly to the next level isn’t a guarantee. Additionally, the majority of his targets consisted of short passes and screens, as he didn’t really ran a lot of traditional routes. Nevertheless, he is a good athlete and his upside would be too intriguing to pass up in the third round.
Conclusion
While any of these potential wide receiver additions for the Browns are fairly realistic options, some scenarios are more likely than others. As I hinted before, a strategy heavily centered around the draft would probably reduce the activity in free agency. As of now, I think the most likely scenario involves a minor free agency addition, such as Osborn or Chark, alongside the selection of a wide receiver with one of Cleveland’s first two draft choices. Since I didn’t get the chance to evaluate any late-round wide receiver prospects, they won’t be included in this analysis. However, don’t be surprised to see Andrew Berry taking a chance on an athletically promising prospect in the later rounds as well. Here are my favorite (realistic) wide receiver additions for the Browns’ offseason, considering these factors:
- Sign K.J. Osborn to a 2 year $8 million contract
- Draft Xavier Worthy in the 2nd round
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