Let's be real: looking at the Cleveland WR depth chart right now feels like walking into your favorite restaurant and realizing they’ve replaced the entire menu with experimental fusion. It’s a lot to process. If you’re a Browns fan, you’re probably still reeling from the 2025 season that saw a complete overhaul of the coaching staff—including the firing of Kevin Stefanski—and a roster that looks more like a college "who's who" than the veteran-heavy squad of years past.
The room is young. Seriously young. Gone are the days of Amari Cooper anchoring the sideline. Instead, the team is leaning hard into a youth movement led by Jerry Jeudy and a handful of second-year players who were rookies just five minutes ago.
The Current State of the Cleveland WR Depth Chart
As we sit in January 2026, the hierarchy in Cleveland has shifted dramatically. The team basically spent the last year throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. Honestly, some of it stuck, and some of it... well, Jamari Thrash was waived in December after failing to really find his footing.
Here is how the room actually shakes out as the team head into the 2026 offseason:
1. Jerry Jeudy: The De Facto WR1
Jeudy is the vet now. That sounds weird, doesn't it? He’s the only one in the room with a massive contract ($13.4 million cap hit for 2026) and a guaranteed spot. In 2025, he was the lone bright spot for a passing game that cycled through Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, and a recovering Deshaun Watson. He put up over 1,200 yards in 2025, which is kind of a miracle considering the chaos at quarterback. He’s the guy, but he can't do it alone.
2. Isaiah Bond: The Speed Element
Isaiah Bond emerged as a legitimate deep threat late in the 2025 season. He’s sort of that "lightning in a bottle" player. He finished the year with 338 yards on just 18 catches—that's a ridiculous 18.8 yards per reception. If the new coaching staff wants to stretch the field, Bond is the primary tool.
3. Cedric Tillman: The Big-Bodied X
Tillman is entering a make-or-break fourth year. He’s had some injury bugs—glute issues, hamstrings, the usual—but when he’s healthy, he’s the only receiver with the frame to box out defenders in the red zone. The problem? Consistency. He only had 270 yards last season. He’s currently penciled in as the WR3, but that's a very shaky pencil.
4. Malachi Corley: The Gadget Man
Think of Corley as the "YAC King" in waiting. After things didn't work out with the Jets, Cleveland brought him in to be that Deebo-lite playmaker. He’s the guy they’ll use on jet sweeps and screen passes. He didn't see much action in 2025 (only 14 catches), but he’s expected to have a much larger role if the new offensive coordinator actually knows how to use him.
5. Gage Larvadain and Luke Floriea
These are the depth pieces. Larvadain handled a lot of the punt return duties in 2025 and showed a little spark, but he’s basically fighting for a roster spot at this point. Floriea was just signed to a reserve/future contract after spending most of last year on the practice squad. He’s a camp body with an outside shot.
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What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Browns' Receiving Core
Most people look at the Cleveland WR depth chart and think, "They need a superstar." Sure, everyone wants a Justin Jefferson, but that's not actually the Browns' biggest problem.
The real issue? The target distribution is a mess because the tight ends are actually the best receivers on the team.
Harold Fannin Jr. (the rookie TE) actually led the team in receptions and yards in 2025, not a wide receiver. When you have Fannin and David Njoku on the field at the same time, the wideouts often become secondary options. This isn't a "traditional" NFL offense where the WR1 gets 150 targets. It’s a hybrid mess that relies on tight ends and running backs like Dylan Sampson out of the backfield.
Why the 2026 NFL Draft is the Real Story
If you think this depth chart is set in stone, think again. Cleveland has two first-round picks in the upcoming 2026 draft, and everyone is pointing toward the same name: Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State.
Tyson is a 6'2" beast who tracks the ball better than almost anyone in the college game. If the Browns pull the trigger on him, the entire depth chart shifts. Jeudy moves to a more natural WR2 role, Tillman becomes a situational player, and Bond becomes a specialized deep threat.
There's also talk about Chris Bell out of Louisville. He’s a big, 220-pound dynamo who might fall to the second round because of a knee injury. Cleveland loves taking flyers on guys with high ceilings, and Bell fits that mold perfectly.
The Quarterback Factor
We can't talk about receivers without talking about who's throwing them the ball. The 2025 season was a transition year. Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel both got starts. Deshaun Watson spent time on the PUP list.
The lack of a consistent "starter" meant the receivers never really got into a rhythm. Jeudy was the only one who could adapt to three different throwing styles. For Bond or Tillman to actually "break out," the Browns need to pick a lane at QB and stay in it. Whether that's Shedeur's year-two jump or a veteran move, the WRs are currently at the mercy of the signal-caller.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re tracking this team for fantasy purposes or just because you’re a glutton for punishment as a Browns fan, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Draft Closely: If the Browns don't take a WR in the first 40 picks, they are officially telling you they believe in Isaiah Bond and Malachi Corley. If they do take a WR, expect one of the depth guys (Larvadain/Floriea) to be gone by August.
- The "Second Year" Jump: This is the big one for Isaiah Bond. Historically, receivers who show high yards-per-catch averages in their rookie years tend to explode in year two if their snap count increases.
- Salary Cap Moves: Jerry Jeudy’s contract is a bit of a burden. While he’s likely safe for 2026 because of the dead cap hit, if he doesn't repeat his 1,200-yard performance, he’s a prime trade candidate by the 2026 deadline.
- The New System: Keep an eye on who is hired as the new offensive coordinator. If they bring in a "heavy 11 personnel" (three wideouts) coach, the depth chart will need to expand. If it’s more "12 personnel" (two tight ends), the WR3 spot is basically a part-time job.
The Cleveland WR depth chart is basically a construction site right now. The foundation (Jeudy) is there, and the frames (Bond/Tillman) are up, but the finished product is still months away from being move-in ready.
Monitor the injury reports for Cedric Tillman specifically, as his "glute" and "hamstring" issues became a recurring theme that kept him off the field during crucial stretches in 2025. If he can't stay healthy through spring ball, his spot on this list is the first one that will be replaced.