© Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Should Avoid Wide Receiver In The 2024 NFL Draft
Wide receivers are expected to be in high demand during this year's draft. The position is not a major need for the Browns which means that they could capitalize on players at other positions who begin to slide.
In the past week, the Browns have hosted several wide receiver prospects for top-30 pre-draft visits. Former Oregon receiver Troy Franklin and former Western Kentucky receiver Malachi Corley are the two most notable players at the position to meet with Cleveland.
Franklin is my 35th overall prospect and ninth ranked wide receiver, while Corley is my 28th overall prospect and seventh ranked wide receiver in the 2024 class. If both players are selected where I value them, then they should be gone prior to Cleveland's first selection at pick 54. If either is still available by the late second round, then the Browns will certainly be tempted to add to the receiver room. If they hold off and go elsewhere with this pick, then there is no chance that either receiver makes it back to them at pick 85.
The 2024 wide receiver class is one of the best classes in not only recent memory but perhaps history. It will be interesting to look back in a few years and see how many of these players turned into solid assets in the NFL.
Due to the prowess of this group as a whole, the safe assumption is that night one and night two will result in teams selecting receivers in quick succession. I anticipate that between 17-20 wide receivers will be selected in the first 100 picks of this year's NFL Draft.
In 2023, 14 receivers were selected in the top 100 picks. In 2022, there were 16 receivers who heard their name called in the top 100 and in 2021, 15 receivers were taken in the top 100 selections.
With every selection in the draft, that means another talented player is still sitting on the board. Every single year there are players who get picked in a spot where they have no business still being available. Dawand Jones being available in the fourth round is the perfect example from a Browns vantage point.
If 20 wide receivers are selected in the top 100 picks, then that is five more from the position group than the average from the past three drafts. This could play into the hands of Cleveland because at least five other talented prospects at other positions would begin to slide.
For a team that needs another linebacker, offensive line depth and another defensive tackle, this may result in snagging top tier talent at one of these spots in the late second or even third round. While the vast majority of the league makes a run at receivers, Cleveland can invest in longevity on the rest of the roster.
Theoretically, if most of these 2024 receivers pan out, then the 2025 receiver class will not get the same attention. Cleveland will then have a first round selection at that time and could target the best of that class like Missouri's Luther Burden III, Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka or Colorado State's Tory Horton.
As for the 2024 season, don't be surprised to see Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, David Bell, Cedric Tillman and James Proche as the six receivers on the 53-man roster. This is a well-rounded room because it is like having a "different flavor of ice cream" at each spot.
Cooper is the star veteran on the outside, Jeudy has exceptional footwork and runs precise routes yet hasn't hit his ceiling, Moore is a solid slot receiver with gadget-like abilites, Bell is excellent at finding open space and has sure hands, Tillman is still developing as a route runner but offers a threat in the red zone due to his size and lastly, James Proche is an excellent return man with some value as depth at slot.
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver James Proche II (11), Amari Cooper (2) and David Bell (18).
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Fans should be encouraged by the current construction of this room and open to the idea of sitting tight at this spot for just one year.
