Browns Wide Receivers Poised for 2025 Season
The Browns are entering the 2025 season with a wide receiver depth chart that combines established NFL talent with promising young players. The core of this group is expected to be Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Diontae Johnson, forming a versatile foundation for the Browns' passing attack.
Jerry Jeudy anchors the receiving corps, having solidified his place as a key offensive weapon after signing a significant three-year contract extension with the Browns in March 2024. Jeudy delivered a breakout performance in the 2024 season, achieving career-best marks with 90 receptions for 1,229 yards and 4 touchdowns in 17 games. His exceptional play earned him his first Pro Bowl selection, highlighting his veteran experience and refined technical skills.
Cedric Tillman, a former Tennessee Volunteer, is poised for a more prominent role in the Browns' offensive scheme. His development continues to be a crucial aspect of the team's receiver rotation. In 2024, Tillman showed flashes of his potential, recording 29 receptions for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns in 11 games before his season was unfortunately cut short by a concussion. The Browns will be looking for him to build on that progress and take a significant step forward in his third professional season.
Diontae Johnson joined the Browns on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract in March 2025, following a tumultuous 2024 season that saw him traded from the Steelers to the Panthers, then to the Ravens, and finally claimed off waivers by the Texans. Despite a challenging 2024 campaign, Johnson's career track record is undeniable. The former Pro Bowl receiver boasts a career-best 2021 season with the Steelers, where he tallied 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and 8 touchdowns. While some reports indicated a cautious approach from other teams regarding his acquisition, the Browns are banking on his past production and route-running prowess to bolster their receiving room.
Beyond the presumed top three, competition for the remaining roster spots is heating up, with several players vying for opportunities.
Jamari Thrash, the 2024 fifth-round draft pick, is a player generating considerable buzz. While he had limited production as a rookie, recording 3 receptions for 22 yards in 9 games, Thrash has reportedly impressed coaches with his dedication and performance during offseason workouts. As noted by various sources, Thrash "took advantage of opportunities in an unproven receiver room and established himself as a reliable option for all the Browns' quarterbacks." Head coach Kevin Stefanski has publicly praised Thrash's "outstanding offseason, commitment to his body, and dedication to studying the game," emphasizing the importance of versatility within his receiving corps.
David Bell remains on the roster, but questions persist regarding his specific role for the 2025 season. After being waived and re-signed to the practice squad in 2024, then suffering a season-ending hip injury, Bell will need to prove his health and consistency to carve out a significant role. He enters a pivotal fourth year, looking to rebound from an injury-marred 2024 where he only played in 2 games.
Other receivers competing for roster spots and special teams contributions include Michael Woods II and DeAndre Carter. Woods, a 2022 sixth-round pick, has battled injuries but showed flashes of potential in 2024, recording 7 receptions for 65 yards in 5 games before a knee injury ended his season. Carter, signed in March 2025, is a veteran who primarily offers value as a return specialist but also provides depth at wide receiver, having caught 9 passes for 72 yards in 13 games with the Bears in 2024.
Notably, the Browns did not select a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft, indicating a vote of confidence in their current personnel and their developmental plan for players like Tillman and Thrash. The team's strategy this offseason has been to maximize competition, reportedly bringing in a significant number of receivers to get ample repetitions for their primary quarterback candidates.
Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea recently shared his outlook, "We've got a great mix of guys who can do a lot of different things for us. My expectation is that this group will be a consistent force, creating explosive plays and being reliable targets for our quarterbacks in every situation. We're striving for a collective impact that elevates our entire offense."
