Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry is searching for a wide receiver upgrade via trade.
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Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry is searching for a wide receiver upgrade via trade.
The Cleveland Browns got some bad news on their search for a wide receiver upgrade.
Appearing on 92.3 The Fan, Albert Breer confirmed that two of the more tantalizing trade targets the Browns had been connected to are not on the table.
“I checked into the Brian Thomas Jr. thing and I was emphatically told he is not available. On Marvin Harrison Jr., I never got the sense that he was available,” Breer said.
The news lands a blow to Cleveland’s hopes of landing a high-end outside receiver via trade. The Browns had reportedly been pursuing a deal for Thomas, a first-round pick out of LSU in 2024. He earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie before struggling through an inconsistent sophomore season in Jacksonville.
Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in 2024, has been mentioned in trade rumors but doesn’t look to be available, even as the Arizona Cardinals retool.
Browns’ Receiver Room Among the Worst in the NFL
The urgency behind Cleveland’s receiver search is hard to overstate. Wide receivers combined for just 1,467 receiving yards for the Browns last season — the fewest in the NFL.
The offense averaged 16.4 points per game, finishing near the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category. For new head coach Todd Monken, who built an explosive offense in Baltimore, he knows the assignment.
“There’s a reason why I was hired here,” he said. “Let’s not kid ourselves. I was hired to become elite on offense and that’s what we’re going to fight every day to be, and I’m fired up because I think we have a chance to really take off. I really do. I think the time is right now to take off and really build it the way you want, so you’re consistently competing for championships.”
The market is thinning in free agency, too. Alec Pierce — widely considered the top receiver available — quickly re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts on a four-year, $116 million deal. Romeo Doubs, another name connected to the Browns, signed with the New England Patriots on a four-year, $70 million deal.
Whoever ends up starting at quarterback for Cleveland — whether Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson, or someone else entirely — will need more to work with than what currently exists in the room.
Browns Still Have Options in Free Agency and the Draft
Browns general manager Andrew Berry acknowledged that adding weapons will be a priority this offseason.
“We’re really pleased with some of the younger players we have. Jerry [Jeudy] is gonna be a big part of it, and we’re pleased with Isaiah (Bond’s) rookie year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t add to the arsenal,” Berry said.
The draft is likely Cleveland’s best path to a legitimate upgrade. And the Browns are well-positioned to act. They hold two first-round picks, No. 6 and No. 24, and multiple wide receivers have emerged as realistic options at both slots.
Carnell Tate of Ohio State has drawn first-round projections and he would immediately become Cleveland’s top deep threat. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, USC’s Makai Lemon and Washington’s Denzel Boston are other options with the team’s top pick.