The Cleveland Browns added a myriad of young talent to their up-and-coming roster this offseason. Notably, general manager Andrew Berry doubled down on the wide receiver position by taking KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston in the first two rounds.
That was obviously a football-driven decision that spoke volumes about the state of the wide receiver room. Both Boston and Concepcion being projected as Week 1 starters is a testament to that.
The Browns may have gotten more out of that decision than they bargained for. While they're banking on their two rookie wideouts to grow into leaders, the pair have quickly become close friends.
“Me and Denzel met at the combine, and then we had a top-30 visit together. So whenever me and him got drafted here, I called him right away and we just basically told each other that we are both coming in excited to work and we need to be the ones to hold each other accountable," Concepcion told reporters this past week. "I want to see him out there catching passes, getting yards, catching touchdowns, and I know that he wants the same for me.”
Cleveland's rookie receivers are choosing to grow together instead of competing for the spotlight
It would be naive to think that the magical power of friendship, flowers, and unicorns will be enough to win football games. It's not like guys on other teams don't get along just fine and even become like family.
That said, this could have gone an entirely different way. Football is an ego-driven business, and with everyone looking to get theirs, Boston and Concepcion could have tried to outshine one another, consider themselves competition, and create unnecessary drama.
Instead, they're choosing to grow together, push one another, and do whatever it takes to finally help turn this franchise around. They're perfectly complementary, but with only one football, there are no guarantees as to who will be the main guy on a given Sunday. It doesn't matter — at least for now.
Having players on the same timeline can make a huge difference for an organization. If everything goes according to plan, most of the Browns' playmakers will all reach their primes around the same time, and having them on cheap, rookie deals will allow the team to surround them with proven veterans.
Of course, the Browns will also have to make tough decisions at some point. They'll have to choose some over others, and that could lead to all the gossip and locker-room turmoil this new-look team has been trying to avoid.
Intangibles matter and we've seen way too many teams look absolutely stacked on paper, only to watch them implode because of ego and drama. For now, that shouldn't be a concern in Berea.
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