The Cleveland Browns sent a clear message on Jerry Jeudy’s role in the offense after adding two dynamic wide receivers in the draft.
The Browns added two new pass-catchers within their first three picks. KC Concepcion came off the board in the first round at No. 24, and Cleveland was also able to add Denzel Boston at No. 39 in the second round.
It’s not common that a team will address the same position with back-to-back picks. But wide receiver was a significant area of need for the Browns and they weren’t shy about adding Boston — who some analysts had a first-round grade on — when he was still on the board.
“If you take Denzel (Boston) after KC (Concepcion), I think he complements KC. He’s a different body type than what we have. We were looking at someone we thought could be a size matchup and especially in the red zone, which we did not have,” Browns head coach Todd Monken said. “We certainly needed to just continue to upgrade that position, and we did.”
Jerry Jeudy Still ‘Bell Cow’ for Browns
Despite the new additions, the Browns still expect Jeudy to play a significant role within the offense.
“Zero impact on Jerry, he’s our bell cow,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said. “I think with receiver rooms, you can have a ball-dominant player, or you can essentially build a basketball team with different skill sets. You know, we prefer the second approach. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take Calvin Johnson if he’s out there. But we feel like we have a nice, well-rounded room with speed, contested catch ability, and separation. So, we’re really pleased with the youth and talent in that group.”
Jeudy finished last season with just 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns on 106 targets. It was a steep drop from the career-high 1,229 receiving yards he posted in 2024, when he was named a Pro Bowler for the first time.
What will ultimately unlock Jeudy and the Browns’ receiving corps is stability under center. Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, or Deshaun Watson who claims the job, Cleveland has made a clear effort to strengthen the infrastructure around them.
The added weapons will help, but the real boost could come up front. The Browns used the No. 9 overall pick on Spencer Fano to anchor the left side, and followed that up by selecting Austin Barber in the third round. Those moves are aimed at giving whoever is under center the time and protection needed to elevate the entire passing game.
Browns Getting ‘Dawg’ in KC Concepcion
The Browns added a true playmaker in Concepcion, the reigning Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation’s most versatile player. He brings strong production — 61 catches for 919 yards and nine touchdowns last season — along with game-breaking ability in the return game, where he scored twice on punt returns. Cleveland is expected to tap into that versatility right away, with Concepcion likely factoring into the kick return mix as well.
“I’m versatile, I make plays. I can play anywhere. I can run any route,” Concepcion said after being selected. “Whenever I get there, you guys are going to be getting a dawg all over the field.”
Boston sees the pairing as a chance to inject life into a Browns offense that struggled to generate production through the air.
“Both of us can take the top off. Both of us can make plays in the red zone, and we both bring something after the catch,” Boston said. “Put all that together, and we can change a lot for this offense.”
The Browns also have Cedric Tillman and Isaiah Bond returning. But the competition for reps and catches will be a lot stiffer than it was a year ago in Cleveland.
Browns Send Message to Jerry Jeudy on Future After Draft Haul