Only 16 receiving touchdowns.

Only 3,152 yards.

Both ranked in the bottom three in the league in their respective categories, but most importantly, there was no standout No. 1 wide receiver option for the future.

It’s safe to say what the Cleveland Browns had at the wide receiver position last season did not work, and new head coach Todd Monken has a specific archetype in mind.

“It’s real simple: big, fast, physical, ball skills, run after catch,” Monken said. “I mean, of course, that’s what everybody’s looking for. But I do think, like any position, looking for a player, what is their elite trait?”

I asked Todd Monken what he’s looking for in wide receivers to fill out the Browns’ room.

Monken: “It’s real simple: big, fast, physical, ball skills, run after catch. I mean, of course, that’s what everybody’s looking for. But I do think, like any position, looking for a…

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 31, 2026

With the first round of the NFL draft starting April 23, plenty of questions swirl around what the Cleveland Browns plan to do with their sixth and 24th picks, along with an abundance of draft capital on the second and third days.

Here are three players who fit the mold of what Monken wants out of his wideouts, and why these prospects make sense for Cleveland in the 2026 NFL draft:

Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

Despite the buzz of Ohio State’s Carnell Tate potentially staying in the state of Ohio, Monken’s description of what he looks for in a receiver points more toward the Arizona State product.

Tyson boasts a strong and versatile skill set at Arizona State and Colorado. He has the speed to beat defenders at every level of the field, in addition to lateral quickness that can get him open quickly in a pinch.

One part of his game that fits the old-school style Monken flaunts is his grittiness in run blocking, a strong part of Monken’s identity that found plenty of success as an offensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens and Georgia Bulldogs.

In terms of elite traits, Tyson has multiple, but one of the biggest questions for him is how healthy he can stay.

Denzel Boston, Washington

In terms of size and physicality, there might not be a more fitting wideout than Boston. The redshirt junior contributed 62 receptions for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games for the Washington Huskies in 2025, serving as the top target for Demond Williams.

Besides being a receiver with a large frame who uses his size to his advantage, Boston excels at getting open on his routes but lacks the natural speed to break away from defenders, especially at the NFL level.

With how deep the wide receiver class is, especially for Day 2 of the draft, it’s difficult to project where exactly the run will start at the position.

Boston is currently ranked 31st on Pro Football Focus’ big board, which is between picks No. 24 and No. 39 that the Browns hold. Assuming Cleveland wants to build up the trenches or opt to go best player available with its first pick, selecting Boston would be a logical choice given what Monken wants.

Malachi Fields, Notre Dame

Although the top of the class is garnering the most attention for a wide receiver-needy team like the Browns, there is plenty of depth later in the draft that Cleveland could take a swing on.

Look no further than Malachi Fields.

The Virginia transfer is a prototypical X receiver who is able to catch contested balls at a higher rate than most, while also not being a slouch when it comes to speed.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Fields excels when he can use his long strides to get downfield and make difficult catches when high-pointing the ball.

Producing 36 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, he was an integral part of a Fighting Irish offense that was a spot away from making the College Football Playoff, and could be a toolsy steal on Day 3 for the Browns.