Top 4 wide receivers Browns should target in NFL Draft following free agency moves

Throughout the first week of free agency, the Cleveland Browns were rather active and filled the majority of the holes they had on their roster — especially on defense. They not only landed a premier defensive tackle with Dalvin Tomlinson but also brought in a true free safety by signing Juan Thornhill.

Those weren't the only moves made by general manager Andrew Berry but outside of Jordan Akins, the focus was clearly on fixing their defense. That means it's highly likely they turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to fill out their wide receiving corps and these four players are the top options.

Browns WR draft target No. 4: Zay Flowers, Boston College

For the past three seasons, Zay Flowers had been putting up great numbers for Boston College. An undersized wideout at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, he wins with his quick feet and ability to stop on a dime. He doesn't have long arms or a tremendous catch radius but could work as a slot receiver due to his ability to create extra yardage once he hits the open field.

Following his excellent career, Flowers headed to the Scouting Combine and put up quite the workout. In fact, he was eerily similar to Steve Smith in just about every way, which had the former NFL wideout pumped.

Teams that add Flowers with the expectation he would be a No. 1 target right away might end up disappointed. Sure, he could turn into the next Steve Smith, but he would be best served in a WR3 role, where defenses didn't focus too much on him.

That's why Cleveland makes so much sense for the young man. He wouldn't be asked to carry a huge burden but could be a constant threat to make a monster play.

Browns WR draft target No. 3: Tyler Scott, Cincinnati

Much has been made about Tyler Scott wanting to play for the Browns. He also excited Cleveland fans when he said he modeled his game after Amari Cooper. But if we're being real, none of that matters.

For example, Dre'Mont Jones wanted to play for the Browns but signed with Seattle. And Antonio Callaway not only said he modeled his game after Antonio Brown, but he even worked out with him — yet still had to go the XFL route before long.

Players point out their favorite teams constantly, and it means nothing. Myles Garrett said before the draft he wanted to play for Dallas, even begging Jerry Jones to trade for him yet he's been all-in since landing in Cleveland. Micah Parsons was a lifelong Philly fan but now plays for their biggest rival and actively recruits players to the Cowboys.

With all that being said, Scott is a great fit for the Browns due to his actual game — and not some statement in a press conference that means nothing.

Scott is an ascending talent who had 54 receptions for 899 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch that season and 16.5 overall in three years. He's not the biggest receiver at 5-foot-10 and 177 pounds but he hits home runs constantly with 10 touchdowns of 30-plus yards.

He can line up in the slot and on the outside and putting him on the same field as Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones will lead to some favorable matchups. And he has the talent to take full advantage.

Browns WR draft target No. 2: Parker Washington, Penn State

Unfortunately, Parker Washington didn't do a whole lot at the Scouting Combine. He was one of my favorite prospects throughout the season and watching him compete in some of the athletic testing against other top wideouts would have been fun.

Even so, he still remains high atop the wishlist. He's simply a great fit in the Cleveland offense and even though Lance Zierlein of NFL.com doesn't think he will excel against man coverage, he can be a nightmare in the slot — especially with his ability to break tackles and create yards after the catch.

"It’s easy to see that Washington has worked hard on all aspects of his craft. He’s not the most athletically gifted player, but he uses all of his talent to maximize his on-field production. Washington plays with well-developed ball skills and the toughness needed to make challenging catches, but finding open windows against man coverage will be difficult, due to his lack of shake and separation. His size and run-after-catch ability help his cause as a backup and possession slot receiver."

Lance Zierlein on Washington

Like other prospects on this list, Washington is under 6-foot-tall as he stands 5-foot-10. He's well-built though at 204 pounds, which helps him shed tacklers.

Washington is also young, coming off his redshirt sophomore campaign and still ascending as a player. He might not have the same name recognition as some of the other prospects out there but his ceiling is incredibly high.

Browns WR draft target No. 1: Trey Palmer, Nebraska

We all know speed kills at wide receiver and Andrew Berry has been a fan of pure breakaway speed. That's why he reached for Anthony Schwartz, who had a lot to learn about playing receiver, but could outrun every other prospect.

Even with the Schwartz experiment looking like a failure, Berry should again pay attention to the fastest 40-yard dash time at wideout in 2023. That belongs currently to Trey Palmer from Nebraska who put up a blistering 4.33.

As impressive as his straight-line speed is, Palmer is far from a one-trick pony.

Listed at 6-foot-0 and 192 pounds, Palmer has plenty of size for the position — which isn't always the case when it comes to the speedsters. He's also coming off an impressive 2022 campaign which saw him record career highs in receptions (71), yardage (1,041), and touchdowns (9). This was all done in his lone season with the Cornhuskers, as he spent the first three years of his career with LSU.

Palmer displayed a large catch radius and excellent body control when going after the ball. He's also an underrated route runner capable of creating space in a hurry. And to top it all off, he has experience in the return game as well, which could come in handy considering how many different players have been needed in this department as of late.

What makes Palmer even more enticing is his potential value. While many names on this list would be ideal at pick No. 42, Palmer could be there in the mid-rounds. Considering the Browns have two starters they trust as well as David Bell who is developing, it might not be a bad idea at all to swing for the fences with a Round 3-4 selection.