CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns invested a ton of money in Jerry Jeudy and the team’s new top receiver responded with 90 receptions for 1,229 yards and a Pro Bowl selection.

The issue is not Jeudy. The issue is the depth and quality of those players behind the Jeudy.

Elijah Moore was solid last season with 61 receptions for 538 yards, but was only able to find the end zone once. Moore, for whatever reason, has never been able to have the impact many of us thought he would have since coming over from the Jets. With Moore’s contract up, and him not being a true difference-maker to this point, it is unclear if Moore is part of the future.

That being said, after Jeudy and Moore, the questions at receiver entering this offseason are plenty. Cedric Tillman, with 29 receptions and 339 yards, has shown some promising moments, but missed the last six games of the season with a concussion. Guys like Michael Woods II, David Bell, and Jamari Thrash have yet to make a significant impact for the Browns.

For me, Cleveland needs to find “touch” guys as much as they need to find true receivers. Touch guys are super athletic, versatile players who just need the football in space to be effective. These are guys with a high football IQ who can play inside, outside, or even in the backfield with the intention of finding space to operate and favorable matchups.

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Burden played 38 games at the college level and totaled 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns. His best season was 2023, with 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. On film, Burden is position flexible and is extremely explosive with the football in his hands. Though really good at all aspects of being a great receiver, Burden is best with yards after catch (YAC).

The key area of growth for Burden will be developing a complete route tree from both the inside slot and outside receiver. The Missouri star will also need to refine his release techniques against the bigger, stronger, and the more skilled secondary players in the NFL.

With the emergence of Jeudy, Burden’s skill set is exactly what the Browns offense has needed for years. During Stefanski’s tenure, the lack of explosive skill receivers has forced the offense to be perfect to score points. Having to go 10-15 plays, at any level, to consistently score points is a recipe for disaster.

Great NFL offenses have skill guys that simply need touches in space to have an impact of the game. Burden does not need perfect blocking or a perfectly designed scheme, he just needs the football in his hands .

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

When it’s all said and done, Egbuka may end up being the best receiver in the 2025 draft. The former Ohio State star had 81 receptions for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns during the Buckeyes' run to the national championship. His 205 receptions officially make him the all-time leading receiver at a school that consistently turns out NFL wideouts.

His success comes from his ability to play both as a slot and outside receiver. He has outstanding releases, is strong at the catch point, and very solid running after the catch. Though not as “sudden” and “twitchy” as Burden, he actually has greater straight-line speed.

The biggest area of improvement for Egbuka will be his short-area quickness and change of direction. These two skills are vital for a receiver for releasing off the line of scrimmage against press coverage.

Egbuka is a complete receiver with an incredibly high ceiling in the NFL. He immediately becomes the Browns' number two receiver behind Jeudy, with elite first-round talent. His intelligence and athleticism allow him to play multiple positions to create mismatches for himself or his teammates.

Xavier Restrepo, Miami

Xavier Restrepo is not a guy who will impress you with his physical measurements. What he will impress you with is his production and ability to get open, catch the football, and make plays for his offense. The former Hurricane had 200 receptions for 2,884 yards and 21 touchdowns during his five-year career in Miami.

As compared to Burden and Egbuka, Restrepo’s size and skill set will primarily make him a slot receiver at the NFL level. The question will be whether Restrepo’s elite short-area burst and twitchiness make up for his lack of raw athletic talent.

Restrepo could be exactly what the Browns' offense needs with another new quarterback at the helm. The best friend for a rookie quarterback or a bridge quarterback is an improved running game and short passing game to keep the offense in short-yardage situations. Restrepo is an outstanding slot receiver who can win against nickelbacks, linebackers, and safeties to keep Stefanski’s offense ahead of the sticks and in quarterback-friendly down and distances.

What we learned

The Browns need an influx of talent on their roster, especially on the offensive side of the football. Burden, Egbuka, and Restrepo bring different strengths to an offense, all of which are needed with a new quarterback.

Lance Reisland is the former coach at Garfield Heights High School, where he spent 18 seasons as an assistant for his father, Chuck, and four as head coach, from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, his team finished 11-1 and appeared in the OHSAA Division II regional semifinals. That team went 10-0 and made history as the first Garfield Heights team in 41 years to have an undefeated regular season along with beating Warren G. Harding for the first playoff win in school history.