Each NFL Franchise’s Richest RB Contract
Running back value has become a divisive topic in the modern NFL, and teams’ histories with these investments reveal a large gap in their respective approaches to RB contracts. Following our installments covering the highest-paid quarterback, wide receiver and off-ball linebacker in each team’s history, here are the most lucrative deals — ranked by guaranteed money — for running backs in each franchise’s history (the list excludes rookie contracts).
Unlike the QB and WR markets, some teams’ top RB deals occurred decades ago. This list covers contracts agreed to across four different decades.
Arizona Cardinals
- James Conner; March 14, 2022: Three years, $21MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Jeremiyah Love‘s rookie contract brings the highest guarantee ($53MM) in RB history, but for veteran accords, Conner’s second Arizona pact is the organizational standard
Atlanta Falcons
- Devonta Freeman; August 9, 2017: Five years, $41.25MM ($22.1MM guaranteed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Derrick Henry; May 19, 2025: Two years, $30MM ($25MM guaranteed)
Buffalo Bills
- James Cook; August 13, 2025: Four years, $46MM ($28.82MM guaranteed)
LeSean McCoy‘s March 2015 extension included more guaranteed at signing ($18.25MM), but Cook’s brought a rolling guarantee structure that eclipsed that package in total
Carolina Panthers
- Christian McCaffrey; April 13, 2020: Four years, $64.1MM ($38.16MM guaranteed)
Chicago Bears
- Matt Forte; July 16, 2012: Four years, $30.4MM ($17.1MM guaranteed)
D’Andre Swift‘s 2024 agreement included more guaranteed at signing ($14MM), but Forte’s guarantee package remains the Chicago standard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Corey Dillon; May 11, 2001: Five years, $26MM ($10.5MM guaranteed)
The Bengals more than doubled Dillon’s AAV number in 2020 for Joe Mixon (four years, $48MM) but only guaranteed $10MM of that pact
Cleveland Browns
- Nick Chubb; July 31, 2021: Three years, $36.6MM ($20MM guaranteed)
Dallas Cowboys
- Ezekiel Elliott; September 4, 2019: Six years, $90MM ($50.1MM guaranteed)
Denver Broncos
- Melvin Gordon; March 20, 2020: Two years, $16MM ($13.5MM guaranteed)
Detroit Lions
- Barry Sanders; July 21, 1997: Six years, $33.5MM ($11.5MM guaranteed)
David Montgomery‘s two Lions deals topped the Hall of Famer in AAV, but neither surpassed $11MM guaranteed; Jahmyr Gibbs is tied to the highest RB guarantee in franchise history ($17.85MM) but got there via a rookie deal
Green Bay Packers
- Aaron Jones; March 14, 2021: Four years, $48MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 pact edges Jones in AAV but fell short of his predecessor’s deal in guarantees
Houston Texans
- Arian Foster; March 5, 2012: Five years, $43.5MM ($20.75MM guaranteed)
Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor; October 7, 2023: Three years, $42MM ($26.5MM guaranteed)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Maurice Jones-Drew; April 15, 2009: Five years, $31.1MM ($14.25MM guaranteed)
Leonard Fournette received a $27.15MM guarantee — still in the top 10 in RB history — but it came on a rookie contract
Kansas City Chiefs
- Kenneth Walker; March 9, 2026: Three years, $43.1MM ($28.7MM guaranteed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Josh Jacobs; August 26, 2023: One year, $11.79MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Raiders sweetened Jacobs’ franchise tag agreement; Ashton Jeanty‘s 2025 rookie slot deal included $35.9MM guaranteed
Los Angeles Chargers
- LaDainian Tomlinson; August 15, 2004: Six years, $48MM ($21MM guaranteed)
Los Angeles Rams
- Todd Gurley; July 24, 2018: Four years, $57.5MM ($45MM guaranteed)
Miami Dolphins
- De’Von Achane; May 13, 2026: Four years, $64MM ($32MM guaranteed)
Minnesota Vikings
- Adrian Peterson; September 10, 2011: Six years, $86.28MM ($36MM guaranteed)
New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson; June 20, 2024: Four years, $36MM ($17.12MM guaranteed)
New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara; September 12, 2020: Five years, $75MM ($33.83MM guaranteed)
New York Giants
- Saquon Barkley; March 7, 2023: One year, $10.1MM franchise tag ($10.1MM guaranteed)
Barkley’s rookie slot deal included $31.19MM guaranteed — fourth all time among all RB contracts — while Devin Singletary‘s $9.5MM represents the franchise’s high-water mark on a multiyear deal
New York Jets
- Breece Hall; May 8, 2026: Three years, $43.5MM ($29MM guaranteed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Saquon Barkley; March 4, 2025: Two years, $41.2MM ($36MM guaranteed)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Le’Veon Bell; February 27, 2017: One year, $12.12MM franchise tag ($12.12MM guaranteed)
Bell’s second franchise tag (2018) covered $14.54MM, but the RB became the first tagged player this century to skip a season; Jaylen Warren‘s 2025 extension brought the highest Steelers RB guarantee ($7.1MM) on a multiyear deal
San Francisco 49ers
- Christian McCaffrey; June 4, 2024: Two years, $38MM ($24MM guaranteed)
Seattle Seahawks
- Marshawn Lynch; March 4, 2012: Four years, $30MM ($17MM guaranteed)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Doug Martin; March 9, 2016: Five years, $35.75MM ($15MM guaranteed)
Tennessee Titans
- Derrick Henry; July 15, 2020: Four years, $50MM ($25.5MM guaranteed)
Washington Commanders
- Clinton Portis; March 1, 2004: Eight years, $50.52MM ($13MM guaranteed)
Information from OverTheCap and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post
Browns Sign Second-Round S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Mentioned as a possible first-round pick, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren needed to wait much longer to hear his name called in this year’s draft. The Browns swooped in to keep the Toledo prospect in Ohio, taking him off the board at No. 58.
The Browns moved up 12 spots for McNeil-Warren, who has signed his rookie contract Thursday. Like all draft deals beyond Round 1, this is a four-year deal. McNeil-Warren took a “30” visit to Cleveland, one of many for the high-end safety prospect, in March. The Browns now have nine of their 10 2026 draftees — all but first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion — signed to their rookie deals.
[RELATED: Browns Sign Spencer Fano, Seven Other Draftees]
McNeil-Warren is now set to make his home in northeast Ohio, where he will join a Browns team rostering Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. The Browns have Delpit signed to an extension, while they applied a second-round RFA tender to Hickman in March.
Teaming with 2024 Eagles first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell in Toledo’s secondary for two seasons, McNeil-Warren intercepted five passes and forced nine fumbles with the MAC program. Our Ely Allen submitted a thorough prospect profile on the mid-major prospect before the draft, and Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board — which slotted McNeil-Warren 15th overall — viewed the Browns as landing a steal late in Round 2.
A rangy ballhawk who was sticky in coverage with the Rockets, McNeil-Warren will need to make a substantial competition jump. Mitchell had no trouble with that vault, however, and Browns GM Andrew Berry‘s twin brother (Eagles exec Adam Berry) observed that rise closely. A third-team All-American last season, McNeil-Warren clocked a 4.52-second 40 time at the Combine. The 6-foot-3 DB prospect was viewed as a player who would join Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman in Round 1, but he ended up needing to wait 33 picks after Thieneman to be selected. McNeil-Warren was this draft’s fourth safety chosen, also going after Arizona’s Treydan Stukes (38th, Raiders).
Cleveland traded up 12 spots (via the 49ers) for McNeil-Warren, who certainly has a path to a regular role on an experienced defense in the near future. Delpit and Hickman are in contract years, pointing to a runway for McNeil-Warren to grow into a starter by the 2027 season at the latest.
The Seahawks signed their second-round safety (TCU’s Bud Clark) to a deal that includes two fully guaranteed years, with $1.15MM of his 2028 base salary locked in as well. This year’s No. 53 overall pick, Colts LB C.J. Allen, received three years fully guaranteed plus another $638K in Year 4. McNeil-Warren could reasonably land three fully guaranteed years on this pact, as second-rounders continue to make widespread gains on the guarantee front.
Browns Add LaRoy Reynolds, Demetric Felton To Coaching Staff
The post-draft period of the offseason always features plenty of staffing changes around the NFL. In the case of the Browns, a pair of ex-players are now in the fold.
Former linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and ex-running back Demetric Felton have joined Cleveland’s staff, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports. Felton will hold the title of offensive skill development analyst, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. No retirement announcement had previously been made in Felton’s case, but this news confirms his playing days are over.
A former undrafted free agent, Reynolds managed a nine-year playing career in the NFL. He totaled 123 combined regular and postseason appearances while playing for the Jaguars, Bears, Falcons, Eagles, Bengals and Jets. Prior to this Cleveland hire, the 35-year-old’s only coaching experience was a single season (2025) as the linebackers coach at Norfolk State.
Felton entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the Browns in 2021. He saw playing time for two seasons with Cleveland, taking on a part-time workload on offense and special teams along the way. Felton 27, bounced around to several teams across the past three years but was not used in the regular season over that span. Instead of attempting once more to carve out a roster spot this summer, he will try his hand at coaching.
A new-look staff is in place for the Browns with Kevin Stefanski having being dismissed and replaced by Tood Monken this winter. Former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will not be back after he did not land the head coaching gig. Improved play on offense in particular will be sought out in 2026, Monken’s first year as an NFL head coach. It will be interesting to see how Felton fares during his initial foray into coaching, while Reynolds makes the move to a pro staff for the first time.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Ross Blacklock, LB Daveren Rayner
- Waived: TE Brandon Frazier, DT Ben Stille, WR Deven Thompkins, RB Carlos Washington
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III, LB Jon Rhattigan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Michael Coats Jr.
- Waived: TE Sal Cannella
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Waived: TE Luke Lachey
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: WR Brenden Rice
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: FB DJ Herman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Bangally Kamara, DL Smith Vilbert
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Xavier Holmes, S Peter Manuma
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Brock Rechsteiner
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jaden Keller
- Waived: LB Ochaun Mathis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C Greg Crippen
- Waived: OT Sataoa Laumea
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Larry Worth III
- Waived: LB Milo Eifler
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
- Waived: LS Wesley Brown, WR Noah Short, LB Benton Whitley, RB Owen Wright
Browns’ Starting OL Appears Set; Zak Zinter’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
The Browns will deploy their first pick in this year’s draft, Spencer Fano, at left tackle, which officially locks offseason trade acquisition Tytus Howard into the right tackle job, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic confirms. Likewise, free agent signee Zion Johnson is entrenched in the left guard role, and Jackson says neither Johnson nor Howard will be moved from their respective spots unless there is an injury or unexpected development.
Given Howard’s experience at multiple positions on the offensive line and the fact that Fano worked on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons, it was theoretically possible Howard – the first major addition to the Browns’ O-line this year – would at least open his Cleveland tenure on the blind side (or even at one of the guard slots, depending on how the team’s offseason and draft unfolded). But the Johnson and Elgton Jenkins signings, Teven Jenkins re-up, and Fano decision have clarified the Browns’ wishes for their starting front.
While head coach Todd Monken recently stopped short of confirming Elgton Jenkins would man the center position, the nature of the former Packer’s contract (two years, $24MM) suggests he will start, and neither Teven Jenkins nor Johnson have experience at the pivot. Jackson confirms Elgton Jenkins is the presumptive starting center once he recovers from the lower leg fracture that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
Therefore, Fano at LT, Johnson at LG, Elgton Jenkins at C, Teven Jenkins at RG, and Howard at RT appears to be the preferred alignment. Jackson does say Jenkins (who started just four games in ‘25, his first year with the club) is the right guard “for now,” thus leaving open the possibility he could be usurped by an incumbent player or yet another outside addition.
For instance, third-round rookie Austin Barber may push Teven Jenkins for RG duties, as Jackson notes. Cleveland made a significant move up the board on Day 2 of the draft to land Barber, who played both left and right tackle as a collegian. In addition to a possible guard battle with Teven Jenkins, Barber will vie for the swing tackle role along with Dawand Jones and KT Leveston.
Meanwhile, Luke Wypler and fifth-round rookie Parker Brailsford will battle each other for the backup center gig — Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says Brailsford actually has a real chance to win the starting job over Elgton Jenkins — and Kendrick Green is also in the mix for a job as an interior reserve. Zak Zinter, a third-round choice in 2024, saw minimal action last season, and Jackson suggests in a separate piece the Michigan product may no longer have a place on the roster. Zinter worked behind Johnson as the second-team LG in voluntary minicamp.
Browns Sign 13 Undrafted Free Agents
The Browns picked up 10 new players in this year’s draft. They have since added 13 more rookies via the undrafted route. Here’s a look:
- Davon Booth, RB (Mississippi State)
- Michael Coats, CB (West Virginia)
- Nate Evans, CB (Delaware)
- Logan Fano, DE (Utah)
- Bernard Gooden, DT (LSU)
- TJ Harden, RB (SMU)
- Izavion Miller, T (Auburn)
- DeCarlos Nicholson, CB (USC)
- Wes Pahl, P (Oklahoma State)
- Tyreak Sapp, DE (Florida)
- Khordae Sydnor, DE (Vanderbilt)
- Zion Washington, S (Boise State)
- Kole Wilson, WR (Baylor)
Logan Fano is the brother of Browns rookie left tackle Spencer Fano, whom they drafted ninth overall. The two were college teammates at Utah, where Logan posted 18 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks during a three-year, 28-game career. Over 11 games last season, the 6-foot-5, 257-pounder notched a personal-best 7.5 TFL and 4.5 sacks en route to second-team All-Big 12 honors. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Fano as the 165th-best prospect available in the draft, lauding his hard-working mentality and “charged-up” pass-rushing skills. He has an alarming history of knee injuries, however, having torn his right ACL twice and his left ACL once in the past seven years.
Sapp (No. 211) also earned a spot in Brugler’s pre-draft top 300. The four-year Gator was at his best in 2024, a 13-game year in which he piled up 47 tackles, 13 TFL and seven sacks. Despite playing the same number of snaps in 2025, Sapp’s numbers dropped to 34 tackles, 3.5 TFL and a sack in a dozen games. Brugler contends “a missing dynamic element” could lessen Sapp’s chances of making an impact in the pros.
Formerly with NC State, Evans enjoyed a breakout campaign at Delaware in 2025. The 5-11, 191-pounder made 38 tackles, deflected eight passes and pulled in three interceptions in 13 games. Evans’ deal with the Browns is worth a guaranteed $115K, including a $5K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.
Set to turn 25 this summer, Coats is coming off a 56-game college career divided among East Central Community College, Nevada and West Virginia. Coats’ most productive season came in 2023 at Nevada, where he intercepted four passes and deflected 13 in 13 games. He did not record an INT in his lone season with the Mountaineers last year, but Coats chipped in another seven PDs in 12 contests. He joined the the Browns for a guaranteed $100K and a $15K signing bonus, according to Wilson.
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
Browns Sign First-Round T Spencer Fano, Seven Other Draftees
Friday has expectedly been busy with respect to teams working out rookie contracts. The Browns are among those which have finalized a number of deals with draftees.
Cleveland announced today that eight draft picks have been signed. First-rounder Spencer Fano is among them. The Utah offensive lineman was taken ninth overall after the Browns executed a long-anticipated trade down the board. That swap with Kansas City allowed Cleveland to move to the No. 9 slot.
Eyeing an offensive addition in the top 10, the Browns were comfortable with the trade upon finding out the Chiefs would be taking cornerback Mansoor Delane. That left Cleveland with three targets at the time of the swap: Fano, Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson. Tyson was drafted at No. 8, and the Browns went with Fano one pick later to make him the top blocker of the 2026 draft.
After one year at left tackle with Utah, Fano moved to the right side to accommodate Caleb Lomu. Fano thrived in that new role, but his arm length led to questions about the possibility of holding up on the blindside at the NFL level. Nevertheless, he will at least begin his Browns tenure at left tackle. Fano succeeding in that spot or finding another in short order would be critical for a Cleveland O-line which will field five new starters compared to last season.
Denzel Boston is the next highest-drafted rookie to sign with the Browns today. The Browns gave him a fully guaranteed contract worth $12.385MM over four years, including a $5.467MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The Washington receiver was on the radar of plenty of teams leading up to the draft, and Cleveland considered trading back into the Day 1 order to acquire him. Instead, Boston remained on the board through to pick No. 39. He will look to contribute right away for a Browns team desperate for improved production and efficiency in the passing game.
Given today’s news, only first-round receiver KC Concepcion and second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren have yet to sign their rookie deals. That comes as little surprise, with many other players selected in the same range as them still unsigned at this point. In any event, the Browns will begin their rookie minicamp with most of necessary work already done on the contract front.
Here is an updated look at where things stand with the Browns’ draft class:
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU) (signed)
Browns Place LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah On Reserve/PUP List
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah missed all of last season while recovering from a severe neck injury. The same will be true again in 2026 for the veteran linebacker.
The Browns announced on Friday that Owusu-Koramoah has been moved to the reserve/physically unable to perform list. Players who find themselves on the active/PUP list during the onset of training camp can be activated at any time. Those who begin the regular season on the list, meanwhile, can be brought back onto an active roster as early as Week 5.
By contrast, the reserve/PUP designation ensures a player will be sidelined for the entire year. Given the fact Owusu-Koramoah found himself in the same position in 2025, today’s news will intensify questions about his NFL career being over. As a February, it seemed as though the 26-year-old’s playing days had come to an end. Friday’s move further reinforces that.
In 2024, Owusu-Koramoah suffered the injury which brought his career to a halt. He had previously established himself as an impactful presence on defense, handling full-time starting duties and earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023. The Notre Dame product inked a three-year extension worth an average of $12.5MM per year after his third Cleveland season, but his time on the field after landing that deal proved to be very short-lived. With Owusu-Koramoah’s status uncertain last spring, the Browns invested a second-round pick in fellow linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
That decision proved to be impactful, as Schwesinger earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2025. He will be expected to remain a key figure for Cleveland this season and well into the future. That is especially true since it appears a return to action on the part of Owusu-Koramoah will not be possible at any time.
As things stand, Owusu-Koramoah remains under team control through the 2027 season. He has amassed roughly $17.5MM in career earnings while totaling 50 combined regular and postseason appearances. In the wake of today’s development, though, it seems increasingly unlikely either of those figures will increase moving forward.
Browns Considered Trading Into First Round For WR Denzel Boston
Reloading at wide receiver, the Browns did not stop after choosing KC Concepcion 24th overall. Cleveland made another big move at the position during the draft, tabbing Denzel Boston at No. 39.
The Browns entered this draft with two first-round picks, obtaining the No. 24 overall selection via the Jaguars’ 2025 Travis Hunter trade-up. The Jags’ dramatic improvement from 2024 to ’25 made that pick less valuable, but the Browns came out of Round 1 with a tackle and a receiver — their long-rumored preference.
Cleveland, however, considered joining the Jets in making it a three-first-rounder haul. The Browns pondered trading back into Round 1 to secure Boston, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who notes the team viewed the Seahawks (No. 32) as a potential option. Seattle GM John Schneider confirmed the team was looking to trade down, which the veteran exec has done many times in Round 1 during his lengthy tenure; the defending champs entered the draft with only four picks.
Schneider confirmed potential trade-down opportunities arose, but the Seahawks stayed put and drafted Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. It should be viewed as a safe bet the Browns represented one of those trade-down chances for the Seahawks, but the team viewed the 49ers as a threat to draft Price. San Francisco, after trading down twice in Round 1, held the No. 33 overall pick to start Round 2.
After the Browns stood down on a first-round trade-up — and what would have been their first three-first-rounder haul since 2017 (when the team added Myles Garrett, David Njoku and Jabrill Peppers) — Fowler adds discussions took place regarding a move up the board early in Round 2. We heard before the 49ers’ No. 33 pick the Browns were among the teams interested in climbing, but no Cleveland trade commenced.
Andrew Berry and Co. bet on a defense-heavy start to the second round and was mostly proven right. After the 49ers chose a receiver (De’Zhaun Stribling) and the Cardinals a guard (Chase Bisontis) to start the draft’s second night, four defensive players (EDGE T.J. Parker, DT Kayden McDonald, CB Colton Hood, S Treydan Stukes) respectively went to the Bills, Texans, Giants and Raiders. That left Boston on the board for longer than expected, and the Browns pounced at No. 39.
Boston was widely mocked as a first-round pick, with pre-draft rumors relaying the Washington product was viewed as a top-three receiver in this class by some teams. Those may not have been entirely accurate, though it is worth wondering if teams merely stood down and addressed other positions while still viewing Boston highly. The Browns conducted a “30” visit with Boston in mid-March and will plug him in alongside Concepcion and Jerry Jeudy. The team has no plans to trade Jeudy despite an underwhelming second season in Cleveland.
The Browns had not used a first- or second-round pick on a receiver under Berry or predecessor John Dorsey. Granted, Cleveland went three drafts without a first-round pick (due to the Deshaun Watson trade/fiasco), but the team has underinvested, draft-wise, at this premier position for a long time. After missing on Corey Coleman in the 2016 first round — when Berry worked under then-front office boss Sashi Brown — Cleveland opted to make other moves at receiver, like trading for Jeudy and Amari Cooper.