As the 2024 NFL Draft continues to grow closer, let's continue with position group assessments that could be a focus for the Browns with their five draft picks.
Next up is wide receivers.
The Browns made a big move at the start of free agency when they acquired WR Jerry Jeudy in a trade with the Broncos in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick. Then, they extended Jeudy for three years.
Jeudy joins a receiving corps that consists of veterans in Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore, as well as young players in David Bell and Cedric Tillman.
However, even with the veterans on the roster and the addition of Jeudy, the Browns could add a receiver in the draft who they could develop over time. As Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry has said, they focus on roster investment with the draft. They could also look to add a wide receiver because that position group possesses an impactful skillset on the game.
There are a number of prospects in this year's draft that could fit that mold for the Browns for either their Day 2 or Day 3 picks.
Malachi Corley has potential fit because of his skillset as a pass catcher. At 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, Corley can add yards-after-the-catch and break tackles. He finished his collegiate career at Western Kentucky with 259 receptions for 3,035 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. He also had 16 carries for 92 yards.
Other potential prospects that could be in the range for the Browns are Ja'Lynn Polk, Roman Wilson and Devontez Walker.
Polk runs routes with a solid pace and can also find space near the boundary. He played his freshman season at Texas Tech where he caught 28 passes for 264 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He then transferred to Washington, where he played three seasons and finished with 115 receptions for 1,967 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns, as well as five carries for 47 yards and one rushing touchdown. His best season was his final year where he finished with over 1,000 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 2023.
Wilson has an explosive speed that can stretch the field and he can run after the catch down the field. He finished his collegiate career at Michigan with 107 catches for 1,707 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, as well seven carries for 117 yards and two rushing touchdowns. In 2023, he was named to the second-team All-Big Ten Conference and was Michigan's Co-Offensive Skill Player of the Year. He also led the team with 48 receptions for 789 receiving yards during the 2023 season and started all 15 games for the national champions.
Walker can create explosive opportunities in the pass game. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Kent State before he transferred to North Carolina for the 2023 season. In his two seasons with Kent State, Walker caught 63 passes for 1,045 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. He also recorded three carries for 29 yards and a rushing touchdown. Then, in his lone season at North Carolina, Walker caught 41 receptions for 699 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, as well as three carries for 23 yards.
Here's a look at the top prospects for wide receiver that could be potential fits for the Browns.
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) runs a route in the first half of Georgia's spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brett Davis)
Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) prepares to fend off Hawaii defensive back Matagi Thompson (25) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin runs with the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) runs against Florida after a reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) warms up before an NCAA football game against California, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 63-19.(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) during an NCAA football game against Army, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in West Point, N.Y. Army won 35-28. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) crosses the goal line in front of Florida linebacker Scooby Williams to score a touchdown on a 41-yard pass play during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn (5) tackles Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) celebrates a touchdown during the New Orleans Bowl NCAA football game against South Alabama in New Orleans, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during an NCAA football game against Colorado, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 42-6. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) makes a touchdown catch against TCU during the second half of the national championship NCAA College Football Playoff game, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin, right, is brought down by Oregon State defensive back Kitan Oladapo (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov 26, 2022, in Corvallis, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Ladd McConkey runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) deflects the tackle against LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (40) first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey (84) makes a catch for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) carries the ball against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin catches a ball during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo.(AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) shoves off Hawaii defensive back JoJo Forest (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
Ladd McConkey runs football drills during Georgia's Pro Day, Wednesday, March 13, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin (11) fights off Southern California cornerback Domani Jackson (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Andy Nelson)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin participates in a position drill at the school's NFL Pro Day, Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
National wide receiver Malachi Corley of Western Kentucky (81) catches a pass as National defensive back Chau Smith-Wade of Washington St (6) defends during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
American wide receiver Ladd McConkey of Georgia runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)
Indiana University defensive lineman C.J. Person tackles Western Kentucky University wide receiver Malachi Corley during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Bowling Green, KY. IU held on to beat WKU 33-31. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin runs for a touchdown after a catch against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 31-7. (AP Photo/Mark Ylen)
NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund also highlighted two other names in the latest episode of Draft on Tap in Troy Franklin out of Oregon and Jamari Thrash from Louisville.
"If the Browns want to select for downfield ball tracking speed threats with upside, Franklin and Thrash could fit the bill and potentially exceed the value of where they're drafted," she said.
Franklin finished his three seasons at Oregon with 160 catches for 2,483 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. He set career highs during his 2023 season when he broke 1,000 yards – finishing the year with 1,383 yards – and 14 touchdowns.
"Franklin has about a 20 percent probability of being available at selection 54 in my models," she said. "His ability to change direction without losing speed, accelerate after catching the ball and maintain ball control when high pointing the ball all rank in the top 90th percentile in a five-season draft sample."
Thrash spent the first part of his collegiate career at Georgia State before he transferred to Louisville for his final season. In his four seasons at Georgia State, Thrash caught 104 receptions for 1,752 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as had three carries for 10 yards. Then, during the 2023 season with Louisville, Thrash caught 63 passes for 858 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and one carry for 12 yards and a touchdown.
"Louisville's Jamari Thrash is another receiver that could be a fit for what the Browns are trying to work towards," Frelund said. "He also ranks above average in catches near the sideline, another example of great body control."
