The Cleveland Browns had lots of issues with the offense last year. They were awful and had some of the worst stats in the league. Meanwhile, the defense and special-teams units kept the team in games.
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Andrew Berry has drafted his share of receivers: Donovan Peoples-Jones (2020), Demetric Felton and Anthony Schwartz (2021), David Bell and Michael Woods (2022), Cedric Tillman (2023), and Jamari Thrash (2024). The 2025 NFL draft was the first one in which Berry did not select a receiver.
His list of drafted receivers is not great. Tillman is expected to start, Thrash may or may not be a starter in waiting, and Bell and Woods are hanging on for dear life on the roster. All of the others are gone.
To supplement his lukewarm pass-catching selections, Berry has gone the trade route in order to bring in capable bodies for the receiver room. But even that route has been a roller coaster.
The trade with the Dallas Cowboys for veteran Amari Cooper was spectacular and brought about good results until he was traded last year. Getting Elijah Moore from the New York Jets in moving down from a valuable second-round draft pick was a really bad move. Last year’s deal with the Denver Broncos for Jerry Jeudy was a story of love, rainbows, and unicorns. Jeudy was named to his first Pro Bowl, gaining 1,229 yards, as Cooper added to his collection of Pro Bowl hardware in 2023 with 1,250 yards.
With this information regarding Berry’s tendency to supplement his inability to draft good pass catchers with the current state of the Browns’ receiving room, it only makes sense that Berry will be working on another trade for yet another veteran wide receiver.
It has been speculated that the Browns could work out a trade with the Green Bay Packers, who have a lot of talent in their receiver room. And that just may come about.
There is another angle, though. And with another NFC club.
What if?
The Washington Commanders have a problem. And at this point, there doesn’t appear to be an amicable solution coming anytime soon.
NFC Championship Game: Washington Commanders v Philadelphia Eagles Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
It seems their star receiver, Terry McLaurin, is not happy that the team has stalled a contract extension. Back on July 5 in 2022 with one year left on his rookie deal, McLaurin inked a three-year extension for $71 million with a $28 million signing bonus. In these past three seasons since signing that agreement, McLaurin has gained 1,191, 1,002, and 1,096 yards, respectively.
Last year, he scored 13 touchdowns, but in the other two campaigns, his TD totals were five and four scores. McLaurin feels his recent offensive impact justifies another extension. He is currently in the final year of that 2022 deal and will make $15.5 million. Recently, other notable receivers have made bank on new deals, such as Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb.
McLaurin recently skipped OTAs due to frustrations over his lack of a long-term deal. That strategy worked in 2022 when he decided against participating in on-field offseason workouts, and the end result was a huge deal. But it was a bit uncomfortable. This time around, he might as well run with the same approach, eh? He is also questionable for mini-camp, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday..
McLaurin has been a steady component with the offense despite some rocky QB play until rookie Jayden Daniels arrived last season. It would make sense that McLaurin finally has a quarterback he can get behind, while the offensive line has improved tremendously. Washington made it to the playoffs last year with a 12-5-0 record with this improved offensive attack, defeating Tampa Bay plus the NFC Number 1 seed Detroit Lions, before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 55-23 in the NFC Championship Game.
Seems like all of this improvement would be an indication to McLaurin to do whatever it takes to help this improved offense and strike a playoff blow while the roster is good.
You see, the Commanders just happen to be the oldest team in the NFL. McLaurin himself will turn 30 years old in September. Washington is a favorite to have a repeat performance in this year’s playoff run. Las Vegas has them at 16-1 odds of winning the Super Bowl and ranked eighth. But the roster clock is ticking.
Odd man out
Washington drafted WR Jaylin Lane of Virginia Tech in Round 4 this year and WR Luke McCaffrey in the third round in 2024, plus traded for WR Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in March and gobbled up WR Michael Gallup two weeks later.
McLaurin just may become expendable, especially with his contract demands with a year left on his current deal. Meanwhile, the Commanders’ front office doesn’t seem to be concerned about his absence.
Yet.
Berry targets a veteran receiver who has had success. McLaurin should become his next target.
Despite Jeudy on the roster, McLaurin would instantly become the clear #1 option in Cleveland’s receiver room.
Washington seems to want McLaurin to remain on the roster, but in the same breath, they are tired of his holdouts and hold the organization hostage when he wants more money. Their stance this time around seems to be: play out your contract, and let’s see what happens in your final year.
Sources: #Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin has made it clear to the team that he’s frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal. As I previously reported, McLaurin unexpectedly left voluntary workouts after initially attending, and it remains to be seen whether… pic.twitter.com/5lUXbe8dxe
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 5, 2025
The receiver room with the Browns is still unknown, with Jeudy the only true talent. Berry did sign Diontae Johnson, who has shown in the past that he can produce. But he may or may not be a knucklehead depending upon the day of the week, and has bounced from team to team with lots of issues from offenses that needed his talent to re-emerge.
From McLaurin’s camp, Jordan Schultz reported that:
“McLaurin is frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal.”
Think about a Browns’ offense with Jeudy and McLaurin on the outside, either Tillman or Johnson in the slot, with David Njoku and Harold Fannin as receiving tight ends. Talk about resources. And passes from a wily veteran such as Joe Flacco? Wow. Not to mention an improved offensive line.
Washington Commanders v Dallas Cowboys Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
The big question remains: What would it take to land McLaurin?
Berry can expect to send a 2026 second-round draft pick, a 2027 fifth-round selection, plus a player such as CB Greg Newsome to Washington in exchange for the talented receiver.
Then, he would have to give him an extension, just like when Berry traded for Jeudy.
Being a former Ohio State alum makes McLaurin that much more attractive for the Browns. He was a member of the 2015 National Championship team and had a career catch average of 16.7 yards per reception.
D.K. Metcalf was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who then signed him to a four-year, $132 million extension, which will pay him $33 million annually. McLaurin may not get this type of deal, but it does illustrate what is most likely the salary he is wanting to seek. It would only make sense to work out these details before the trade.