Browns looking at WR class not as strong as it’s been the past two years?

For months, the Browns have been mocked wide receivers with the 13th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft with names rotating between Garrett Wilson, Treylon Burks and Drake London.

But after hearing what Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl, said about the class, you wonder if the Browns will look at an edge rusher, instead.

Nagy said he didn’t know if this year’s WR class is “quite as strong as the last two years.”

He’s believes the run on receivers should start in the middle-to-late part of the first round, with some even going in the second round, via The LandonDemand.com (subscription required).

"“I really do. They’re talented. Jameson Williams might be the most talented, but now the injury kind of impacts that. He’s just really unique from a size-speed perspective. A lot of those big guys have speed down the field once they get rolling, but he’s pretty immediate right off the line. You really feel that when you see him play live … and when you talk to opposing defensive coaches, he’s got a first gear and he’s got a second and third gear. From a height-weight-speed perspective, he’s probably the most talented one."

Alas, Williams suffered a knee injury in the national title game, which may make it hard for some teams to pull the trigger on him in the first round.

As for Wilson, Nagy talked up his explosiveness and said his qualities “jumps off the tape.”

While London and Burks are the bigger wideouts, one wonders if Wilson has the speed the Browns would covet.

Nagy said he believes you’ll see Wilson and Burks come off the board in the mid-to-late first round, just because he believes teams will hold off on spending early picks on the position.

"“I think teams are going to wait on that position,” Nagy said. “I don’t think that’s a position you take guys real high. Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith, those guys, came in and had great rookie years. But I just think you can find good receivers in Day 2, really good ones. I just think up high in the draft, those are premium positions. I don’t think you win Super Bowls with receivers. You just have to find building block pieces at tackle, corner, pass rush. I just think there’s more premium positions than receiver.”"

For a recent example of a wide receiver who went later in the draft (third round), look no further than current Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. He had a really good rookie campaign in 2017, but it was in 2019 he really took off. A classic example of a building block.

On the flip side, Cincinnati took Ja’Marr Chase and the LSU product helped get the Bengals to the Super Bowl.

I assume Chase would be grouped in with Smith and Waddle as a player you’d cash your chips in for.

To Nagy’s point, there is no clear consensus No. 1 with Williams injured, and that makes sense, considering mock season has been a merry-go round of receivers who fit the Browns’ needs.

If the Browns don’t take a receiver, the feeling is they’ll go with a defensive end, especially if they’re unable to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney.

And if they don’t do that, maybe they shock the world as Mary Kay Cabot recently predicted and take Liberty QB Malik Wilson with the 13th pick. Ah, draft silly season. It’s back, and we missed you.