The Browns went into the 2026 offseason with problems that were impossible to ignore, and Andrew Berry moved quickly to attack them. Cleveland needed help up front and it needed more juice in the passing game, and the front office handled both before the spring was over.
The offensive line got attention early in free agency. Then the draft brought the kind of bold move that can look reckless in the moment and brilliant a year later. Berry used back-to-back picks on wide receivers, taking KC Concepcion late in the first round and Denzel Boston early in the second.
It was an unusual strategy, but so far it has only helped the Browns’ case. Both rookies have earned strong reviews since Cleveland’s rookie minicamp, and both are expected to matter right away. That’s part of why NFL Spin Zone’s Sayre Bedinger pointed to them as two possible Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates.
Boston and Concepcion entered the draft with first-round grades, and while this class was not loaded with elite upside, both players came with a strong floor. Concepcion brings the explosion - the kind of big-play speed that can turn a routine snap into a chunk gain. Boston offers a different kind of damage, built on power and physicality and the ability to become a real factor near the goal line.
That contrast is what makes the pairing so interesting. They don’t just fit together; they give new head coach Todd Monken options. Different skill sets, different ways to attack defenses, and plenty of room to mix and match.
None of that guarantees anything. Plenty of promising rookies have arrived with buzz and failed to deliver.
But Cleveland gave itself two chances instead of one, and that matters. Even if both receivers fall short of becoming immediate starters, the Browns still improved their odds of finding a long-term answer at the position.
The quarterback question remains as pressing as ever, but for the first time in a while, Cleveland has enough playmakers around that spot to make life easier for whoever lines up under center. More talent means a higher floor, more pressure on everyone else, and less room for the offense to hide.
If both Concepcion and Boston hit, the Browns may have done more than patch a need. They may have landed a dangerous receiver duo that can stick around for years.
In Other News...
Browns May Have Found The O-Line Answer Fans Were Bracing Against
The Browns found a way to address a glaring need up front without paying the kind of premium that usually comes with it. Cleveland signed veteran lineman Elgton Jenkins to a two-year, $24 million deal with $15 million guaranteed after his release from Green Bay, giving the offense a proven, versatile blocker who can help stabilize the interior and compete for a starting job at center or right guard.
For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for answers along the offensive line, the appeal is obvious because the move did not cost draft picks. There is still risk attached, of course, since Jenkins is working back from a serious leg injury, but the Browns now have a veteran option in place and a chance to see whether he can become the kind of fix they were bracing to chase all offseason. [Read more 🡒]
4 Browns Veterans Suddenly Feel Far Less Safe This Summer
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For veterans, that makes this summer feel a lot less comfortable than usual. Jones is trying to hold off the effects of last seasons LCL tear while the Browns have added more competition around him, Tillman has younger receivers pressing for snaps, and Wypler is facing a challenge at center after the team brought in another rookie in April. Even Watsons place remains part of the evaluation, which is a reminder that nothing is being handed out in Cleveland right now. [Read more 🡒]