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Browns NFL Draft: 5 tantalizing WRs to watch at the NFL Combine
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- Browns NFL Draft: 5 tantalizing WRs to watch at the NFL Combine
It's no understatement to say that the Cleveland Browns ' wide receiver room in 2025 was one of, if not the worst, groups in the NFL. Luckily for Cleveland, this year's wide receiver class in the 2026 NFL draft is loaded with talent. The NFL Combine is here, and the top prospects will be on display this week.
The Combine is just a smart part of the puzzle for a prospect, but it helps build their overall prospect profile and show their athletic potential. Here are five wide receiver prospects that Browns fans should be watching closely at the combine as potential targets for Cleveland in April.
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Makai Lemon, USC
Makai Lemon is considered one of the best wide receiver prospects in the class and is 13th overall on the consensus big board . He is slightly undersized, so his measurables and athletic testing could determine where he falls in the first round. He is explosive but might not have the fastest 40 time, and teams will be watching closely to see what his top speed is and, more importantly, his 10-yard split, which shows how explosive and quickly he gets off the line of scrimmage to reach his top speed.
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
Brenen Thompson is a true speed demon, and there are some who think he could break the 40-yard dash record this week in Indianapolis . Thompson is very undersized, so his actual measurements will be important to see. He's not going to be a team's top option, but he can be a returner and slot at the next level, and if he shows that he is a very good athlete, that could land him a role on a team as a deep ball big play specialist.
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Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Omar Cooper Jr. has been rising up draft boards with some first-round buzz heading into the combine. He is a great athlete on tape, and teams will see whether his testing confirms it. If Cooper tests as well as many, including myself, think he will, then you can go ahead and write in pen that he will go top 50 in April's draft at worst and is likely an option for a team at the end of the first round.
Zachariah Branch, Georgia
Another great athlete, Zachariah Branch, has great speed, and teams will be watching him closely this week to see just how fast and explosive he can be. The position drills will be important as well, since there are questions about his route-running and catch radius. The more athletic he is, the more willing a team will be to take a chance on him, knowing they can work on his route running.
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Elijah Sarratt, Indiana
Elijah Sarratt is one of my favorite wide receivers in this class because he is a reliable chain mover who simply gets open and catches the ball. However, he isn't an elite-level athlete, so his testing will be important, and if he tests better than expected, he could move himself up the board. The biggest question is how limited an athlete is he, and the testing this week will help answer that question.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: 5 tantalizing WRs to watch at the NFL Combine
