Who is the top WR draft target for the Browns?
By: Michael Welsh
Garrett Wilson
With the Los Angeles Rams winning Super Bowl LVI, we have officially entered the 2022 off-season in the NFL. There will be a lot of exciting moves with trades and free agency within the next few months, along with draft breakdowns after the NFL Combine in March. The Cleveland Browns need weapons, most notably a dynamic wide receiver. There will be plenty available at pick 13, and some believe that Garrett Wilson from Ohio State will be on the board. Let’s take a look at some of his strengths and weaknesses and if he would fit nicely in Cleveland.
Strengths
There isn’t a wide receiver prospect in this draft that is as good at ball tracking as Garrett Wilson. He just has a specific way of finding the ball in the air and making the play. That combined with his good hands make him a legit weapon at the pro level.
One things the Browns seemed to lack at critical times in 2021 was pass-catchers creating yards after the catch. It turns out one aspect of Wilson’s game is his great ability to create yards after the catch. This is so important and could be a game-changer for Baker Mayfield and the offense.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski loves screen plays. The offense often runs wide receiver screens fairly often, and this could increase even more if they draft Garrett Wilson. He is really good on screens and has a nice burst that can turn one yard into over ten in a blink of an eye.
Weaknesses
If there’s one area that Garrett Wilson must improve on at the pro level, its his route running. He isn’t terrible by any means, but there is plenty to work on. He lacks consistency in that area, but luckily good coaching can improve that quickly.
Wilson is 6′ 192 pounds. It isn’t a bad size, but for the Browns it might become an issue. Baker Mayfield has a tendency to overthrow his pass catchers, so this has caused a lot of fans to say they need more size in the receiver room. Truth be told, Wilson has a similar frame to Odell Beckham Jr, who we all know did not mesh well with Baker Mayfield. That doesn’t mean Wilson will follow in the same footsteps, but it is something to think about.
Cleveland needs a player that can stretch the field, and Wilson may not be that. He seems to fit more in a slot receiver role, which is totally fine, but if the Browns keep Jarvis Landry then that could get challenging. Wilson isn’t going to be a game-breaker like Ja’marr Chase or Justin Jefferson. So it will be interesting to see if he would be what Cleveland needs.
Overall Garrett Wilson would be a good pick for the Browns at 13. He doesn’t fit everything that they need and he isn’t as polished as some prospects from the last few years, but he would still elevate the offense. Picking him would depend on who is available and if Andrew Berry targets a big-framed wide receiver in free agency such as Mike Williams. Pairing Mike Williams with Garrett Wilson and then keeping Jarvis Landry in the slot would be a dynamic receiver room.
Ohio State has a way of producing very talented wide receivers, and for the 2022 draft, it is no different. In addition to Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave is a first-round prospect that the Browns might take a look at. Most mocks do not have him going as early as pick 13, but if Andrew Berry likes him enough then he might take him there or trade back to acquire more assets.
Chris Olave
Strengths
One could argue that Chris Olave is the most NFL-ready wide receiver in the draft. He is very fast and has fantastic route-running skills that help create separation. He is just one of those guys who always seems to be open. He is 6’1″ and 188 pounds, so he will need to bulk up a little bit at the pro level. But he is a Justin Jefferson type guy, just not as polished.
Olave is also pretty versatile. He can lineup in the slot or on the outside, which helps keep defenses on their toes. He also has the ability to create yards after the catch, which goes a long way. He is smaller but plays like a slightly bigger receiver at times.
Weaknesses
Like a lot of college-wide receivers, Christ Olave is not the best blocker. He will need to put on more muscle and learn to handle NFL defensive backs in the blocking game. His size will be a big hurdle in the pros.
Olave has played a lot of his college snaps against zone coverage, so he will have to improve against press coverage. His overall awareness and ability to read defenses from the wide receiver position will need to elevate in order to have consistent success.
Accolades
2021 first-team All-America
2021 first-team All-Big Ten
2020 first-team All-Big Ten
If Garrett Wilson is already off the board, Drake London is a great option that has many different traits that separate him from Wilson. Many consider London to be the first or second-best receiver option in the draft. What makes him that good of a prospect? Let’s take a look.
Drake London
Strengths
The most enticing thing about Drake London is his size. He stands tall at 6’5″ and is roughly 210 pounds. Another Thant David Njoku at Tight End, Baker Mayfield hasn’t ever had a receiver that tall in his NFL career. London is that guy to go up and make the contested catches while stretching the field. He has strong hands and can be savvy with route running. He also played basketball at USC, so his jumping ability is very good.
Oftentimes guys as tall as London are not elite at running after the catch. This is not the case for the USC star. He is more elusive than he looks and that is something that Cleveland desperately needs. Improving at the deep ball is something that has to happen in 2022 if the Browns want to have success. Drafting London would be a huge step in the right direction. He finished with 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns before missing time with an ankle injury.
Weaknesses
There honestly are not that many major weaknesses with Drake London. Many have concerns since he is coming off of an injury, but it is expected for him to be fully ready to go in 2022. Because of his size, he doesn’t move very quickly laterally. This is expected, but don’t expect him to make ten guys miss in open space. He is more likely to just run them over.
There have been reports that his blocking technique is below average. This is something that can be easily fixed, so it isn’t a major cause for concern. Doing the little things in the NFL is crucial to long-term success, so he will have to improve there.
Drake London would be an amazing option at pick 13 if he is still available. Having some size in the wide receiver room could go a long way, especially with someone as talented as London. Andrew Berry will have a very tough decision if both Drake London and Garrett Wilson are on the board.
Accolades
2021 first-team All-Pac 12
2021 AP third-team All-American
In the event that both Garrett Wilson and Drake London are taken before pick 13, the Browns will still have some good options to pick from. One of them is wide receiver Treylon Burks out of Arkansas. He is kind of a mix of Wilson and London, with his own unique traits.
Treylon Burks
Strengths
Much like Drake London, Treylon Burks has a big frame and great hands to make the tough catches. He is 6’3″ and 225 pounds and is overall a very complete athlete. He is very versatile and possesses big play ability. One of those throws the ball in his direction and he will catch it type of receivers.
Adding to his versatile traits, Arkansas used him at times in the backfield and on trick plays. Kevin Stefanski loves plays like that, so he could fit right into the offense. He has also returned punts and kicks, which is something Cleveland still hasn’t solidified. He finished the 2021 season with 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Weaknesses
One thing Burks has to work on at the pro level is perfecting the little things. At Arkansas, there were times when he would make small, mental mistakes. In the NFL, those small errors can have a massive impact. He will have to put his head down and really learn the playbook as well.
His route running needs some work. His breaks are not very smooth and he has the tendency to freelance on routes a bit. He also needs to work on his blocking and overall effort on plays where he is not targeted.
Treylon Burks is definitely not as polished as Drake London and Garrett Wilson, but he still has immense talent that could make him a true number one receiver in the NFL. The Browns would benefit from what he brings to the table.
Accolades
2021 first-team All-SEC
