Cleveland Browns: 3 wide receivers to consider at No. 26
By Randy Gurzi
The Cleveland Browns added a lot of help on defense in free agency which could free them up to draft a wide receiver at No. 26. These 3 players make the most sense.
General manager Andrew Berry got to work this offseason patching the holes in the Cleveland Browns defense.
He ended up doing even more than expected as he added help at safety, cornerback, linebacker, and the defensive line. The biggest additions were John Johnson III from Los Angeles and Jadeveon Clowney — the former No. 1 overall pick who spent 2020 with the Tennessee Titans.
They did release Sheldon Richardson but the addition of Malik Jackson helps soften that blow some. In the end, this defense is vastly better than they were a year ago — and could be improved again in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Of course, these additions also mean the Browns might not feel pressured to add more defensive help. They could actually look to add another wide receiver — which would make sense given how they struggled to move the ball downfield in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
With that being said, we look at three players who would be worth a look at No. 26 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
3. Rondale Moore, Purdue
Rondale Moore is easily one of the most talented wide receivers in the upcoming draft but he has some serious question marks. Not only is he on the smaller side at 5-foot-9 and 175-pounds, but he’s also had some durability concerns.
It’s unfortunate because if he was healthy for his entire career and three inches taller, Moore would be a top-15 pick. Of course, neither of those things can suddenly become true but that doesn’t mean Moore should be completely discounted at No. 26.
Moore is a smooth route-runner and can even be a weapon in the backfield — and we saw in 2020 that head coach Kevin Stefanski has no issues using his wideouts in various ways. On top of that, Moore can excite on special teams.
He’s a player who can break a game open, which this offense needs, but they would really have to feel comfortable taking a bit of a risk. With Berry being a relatively new GM, it’s unknown how he feels about gambling with a pick in the late 20s.