A lot has changed for the Cleveland Browns since the end of 2021. Since then, upgrading the team’s receiving corps has been seen as a top priority. While the addition of QB Deshaun Watson should raise the performance of all pass catchers, the Browns still need to give him weapons to work with.
So far, Amari Cooper has been added to the group as a top-level receiving threat at multiple levels. With his addition, however, came the subtraction of Jarvis Landry. While the two players are different in their styles, the loss of Landry is still problematic.
Cleveland is still interested in Landry’s return but not at as high of cap hit as he was scheduled to have when he was released or the $20 million he was reportedly seeking early in free agency.
While mock drafts that only have a first-round are no longer that interesting to Browns fans, some are putting out ones with more than one round. The most recent from our sister site Touchdown Wire has Cleveland taking WR Alec Pierce with their top pick, #44 overall.
We covered Pierce while at the NFL combine and his unique traits. Pierce also graded well against press-man coverage in recent data.
Adding the 6’3″ Cincinnati receiver, who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine, could give the Browns the option to move receivers around in formations. Pierce and Cooper have experience inside while Donovan Peoples-Jones has been a mostly outside receiver.
Adding weapons since offense and passing specifically have been the key to making the Super Bowl in the last decade could create a huge boon for the Browns in 2022.