The Cleveland Browns have been in total overhaul mode since the end of the 2015 season, and after making changes in both their front office and with their head coach, owner Jimmy Haslam is looking to build a strong new foundation in Cleveland. Browns fans have dealt with many changes over the past two decades and have seen starting quarterbacks and head coaches come and go after failing to accomplish success.
Cleveland fans haven't seen the Browns win a playoff game since 1994 when Bill Belichick was the head coach. Many are hopeful that newly acquired head coach Hue Jackson will change all that for the Browns, and the team has already started reshaping their roster. The Browns landed free agent quarterback Robert Griffin III on a two-year deal but lost their top wide receiver Travis Benjamin to the San Diego Chargers.
Many expect the Browns to take a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but Jackson has made it known that the Browns are looking to upgrade the wide receiver position as well. "It's an area we need to address obviously," Jackson said at the NFL's annual owners' meetings. "I've gone on record before saying that I like to have bigger, faster guys play the position."
While Cleveland will likely take California's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz with their first round pick, the 32nd overall pick for the Browns could very much be in play for a wide receiver prospect. The wide receivers in this year's draft class have been heavily debated, but most project Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell to be the top guy. Treadwell will likely not available by the time Browns are on the clock with their second round pick, but three potential receivers that they should look to target who could still be on the board are Notre Dame's Will Fuller, TCU's Josh Doctson and Ohio State's Michael Thomas.
Fuller may not be the big-framed receiver that they are looking for at 6-foot, 186-pounds, but he is one of the fastest receivers in this year's draft class and posted the fastest receiver 40-yard dash time at 4.32 seconds at the 2016 NFL Combine. The Fighting Irish receiver would give the Browns an immediate homerun threat who can easily create separation with defensive backs.
Fuller may not be the big-framed redzone target that Jackson is looking for in a second round pick, and that's why the Horned Frogs receiver, Doctson, could be a strong fit for the Browns' new head coach. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound wide out was a touchdown machine at TCU recording 25 touchdowns in his final two seasons. "I think he'll be a receiver that people start to find problems with and then he'll get 65-70 catches by year two or three," one NFC area scout said. "He can really go get it when the ball is in the air. Those guys aren't easy to find."
Another potential receiver prospect that the Browns should have high on their board is the Buckeyes receiver, Thomas, who checks all the boxes that teams look for in a top-tier receiver. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound wide out didn't put up huge numbers in his junior season at Ohio State, but much of that was due to quarterback issues, as the Buckeyes' entire passing game struggled in 2015.
It's unknown who will be available for the Browns following the first round of the draft, but if any of the three mentioned above are available, Cleveland should grab them quickly. It's likely going to take time before the Browns become a consistent contender, and Cleveland fans know better than most how important this draft will be, as it can set the tone for a new era in Browns football.
