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KC Concepcion Sends Strong Shedeur Sanders Message After Browns’ Draft Decision
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- KC Concepcion Sends Strong Shedeur Sanders Message After Browns’ Draft Decision
The Cleveland Browns made their intentions clear on day one of the 2026 NFL Draft . After taking offensive lineman Spencer Fano from Utah, they went right back to work and selected wide receiver KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M with their second first-round pick.
Cleveland had been tied to Concepcion for weeks heading into draft night, largely because of his similarities to Zay Flowers , who broke out under offensive coordinator Todd Monken during his time in Baltimore .
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Concepcion wasted no time making his feelings known either. He already has a connection to Shedeur Sanders that goes back further than most people realized.
"I actually got, kind of like, a story. When I had entered the transfer portal after my sophomore season, I had actually went down to Colorado and met Shedeur," Concepcion told media on their first day at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. "He's a great guy, a great leader. I just cannot wait to build that relationship, build that connection with him."
Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver KC Concepcion is selected by the Cleveland Browns as the number 24 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
What KC Concepcion Brings to Cleveland
The Browns' passing game was rough in 2025. They finished near the bottom of the league in both passing yards and scoring, and their leading receiver ended up being rookie tight end Harold Fannin.
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That tells you everything you need to know about how badly this room needed an upgrade. Concepcion gives them a weapon who creates separation quickly and handles press coverage well.
He snaps out of his routes cleanly and reads zone coverage with good instincts. The concern scouts keep coming back to is his size, and that conversation isn't going away anytime soon.
For now he projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level, though showing he can line up in multiple spots would help his case as the season goes on. Contested catches are another area where he'll need to develop.
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Shedeur Sanders Connection Could Define the Pairing
With Sanders viewed as a potential starter in 2026 and Dillon Gabriel also in the mix, the quarterback situation in Cleveland is still taking shape. Concepcion is expected to see early snaps alongside Isaiah Bond and Jerry Jeudy .
The pre-existing relationship with Sanders gives that pairing a head start, and for a Browns offense looking to reset after a 5-12 season, that kind of early chemistry matters.
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Related: Chiefs First-Round Pick Mansoor Delane Makes Feelings Clear Right Away
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
