Cleveland Browns: Top need prospects available in first three rounds

Cleveland Browns draft prospects: Wide Receiver

1st Round: Rashod Bateman

If Rashod Bateman is available at pick 26, the Browns almost have to select him. Bateman would provide Cleveland with everything they are looking to add to their wide receiver room.

During Bateman’s time in Minnesota, he was used all over the field. He split his time with roughly half of his snaps on the outside and the other half from the slot. His inside-outside versatility is something that is necessary for the modern offenses of today’s NFL.

What makes Rashod Bateman special is his releases off of his routes. This allowed him to beat tight man coverage on a consistent basis which is something the Browns lack currently.

Bateman is also a fantastic athlete. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash in his pro day. His speed showed on the field with his ability to turn short passes into house calls.

He showed a diverse route tree in his time in Minnesota. He was able to run pretty much everything and have success while doing it. Rashod Bateman has all of the tools you are looking for in a first-round receiver. With all of the attention on the top three receivers in this draft, Bateman could be this year’s Justin Jefferson.

2nd Round: Tylan Wallace

If Bateman is unavailable in the first round, the Browns should look towards Tylan Wallace with their second-round pick.

Wallace consistently produced at Oklahoma State when he was on the field. His ability to go up and get the ball let the quarterback throw downfield into tight coverage. He would Moss defenders on a consistent basis.

The knock on Wallace was that he was somewhat of a one-trick pony in college. Oklahoma State almost exclusively used him in bubble screens, go routes, or end zone fades. That being said, Wallace possesses all of the athletic ability to expand his route tree in the NFL.

Tylan Wallace’s speed was put into question after his poor showing during his pro day where he ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. But he has been rumored to have run a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at a different event. Plus, if you check the film, he consistently outruns defenders. My guess would be that the 4.48 is an outlier.

Wallace used his speed to turn his bubble screens into touchdowns. He also consistently took the top off of the defense running past everyone on his go routes.

Wallace could be an explosive and productive member of the Browns offense in his first season and would be a great use of the second-round pick.

3rd Round: Jaelon Darden

If the Browns neglect the wide receiver position for the first two rounds, they should seriously consider Jaelon Darden with their third-round pick.

Darden, coming out of North Texas, didn’t exactly face the toughest competition in college football. But he still seems like an intriguing prospect for the Browns to add to their offense.

He was a yards-after-catch monster and he consistently put defenders in a blender with his open-field elusiveness. Darden has the kind of moves that make would-be tacklers look silly.

Darden also has great moves on his routes as well. He can stop on a dime and he breaks off his routes really well. Darden was able to get open whenever he wanted to.

One issue with Darden is that he is smaller than you would want your wide receiver to be. He measured in at 5-foot-8 and 174-pounds at his pro day. But his height didn’t stop him from consistently getting open over the deep middle of the field.