Cleveland Browns: The top priority for Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft

The Cleveland Browns must prioritize this position on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry improved the secondary by a good amount with the addition of cornerback Greg Newsome in Round 1. He will make a big impact for the defense, but now the offense needs some help. The current wide receiver room is not acceptable for a Super Bowl contender and is terribly suited to Baker Mayfield’s strengths as a passer.

The team had Rashod Bateman staring them in the face, but passed on him in favor of Newsome. The Baltimore Ravens predictably took Bateman with the very next pick, a decision that the Browns will have to experience firsthand at least twice a year. It’s understandable why Berry went with Newsome over Bateman, but the end result still stings.

Although Bateman is gone, there are still some excellent receiver prospects available who would make huge impacts for the Browns, both in 2021 and in the future. Four of the top eight receivers in this class have been taken, along with Kadarius Toney, a surprise pick by the Giants.

That leaves Rondale Moore and Elijah Moore as explosive slot weapons and Dyami Brown and Terrace Marshall Jr. as outside targets. Each brings something different to the table, but all provide the ability to beat man coverage and win downfield, things that Cleveland desperately lacks outside of Odell Beckham Jr.

Both Moores have big-play ability from the slot, but have also succeeded on the outside when given limited opportunities in college. They shouldn’t be pigeonholed into a singular role in the NFL, and in Rondale Moore’s case, should be utilized much better by Kevin Stefanski than he was as a Boilermaker.

Some may be off-put by his 5-7 height, but he runs a sub 4.3-40, squats 600 pounds, and put up elite numbers in the explosiveness and agility drills. He and Jaylen Waddle (who went sixth overall to the Miami Dolphins) are the closest things the NFL has seen to Tyreek Hill, and Moore would add a new dimension to this offense, opening up the field both laterally and vertically.

Elijah Moore is not as explosive or quick as Rondale Moore, but he’s still an elite athlete in his own right and is a more refined player. He’s excellent with the ball in his hands and is as reliable as they come.

Both Brown and Marshall are vertical threats who excel down the field and who can also win in contested situations, as well as providing quality YAC ability.

Anthony Schwartz, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaelon Darden, Tylan Wallace, and Nico Collins are other names who could be options in Round 3 if the Browns were to wait that long to address the position.

Cleveland needs help at receiver this season, and could be replacing four players in that room in 2022, so preparing for that possibility now would be wise.

The Browns will be busy on Day 2, as they currently sit with three selections. They absolutely must land a wide receiver today, otherwise, they will have failed catastrophically to improve an offense in need of improvement.