That said I can't picture a scenario where the Browns don't spend one of their first three picks on a wideout, and I can see them possibly coming out of this draft with 2. It's regarded as the strongest position in this draft and good players will be found throughout. The Browns current depth chart looks like this.
Greg Little - 61 catches, 709 yards, 2 TDs. Came in as a rookie after having not playing his senior season and looks like he can be a very good player. Has size and speed and should develop in his 2nd year. His size and strength should allow him to grow into a red-zone target. A keeper.
Mohammed Massaquoi - 31 catches, 384 yards, 2 TDs. A frustrating player, he looks the part but has been knocked around and missed games. He can win jump balls but I watch him and it doesn't look like he has great awareness, there were more than a few times he made catches on the sidelines but couldn't get his feet down. A candidate to be replaced.
Josh Cribbs - 41 catches, 518 yards, 4 TDs. He had his best year as a receiver last year. He's a player that defenses respect in that he can make a big play, he should be used more creatively.
Jordan Norwood - 23 catches, 268 yards, 1 TD. He's a little guy who can move the chains and return punts, but he is REALLY small. He's not overly explosive. Missed a couple games at the end of the season.
Carlton Mitchell - 3 catches, 31 yards. Looks the part but hasn't put it together enough to warrant more playing time, which is not a great sign given the players ahead of him.
Cribbs led that group with a 12.6 avg per catch. As a team the Browns averaged 10.3 yards per catch, which puts them dead last in the NFL. Whether it's a function of the system, the quarterback, or the receivers is up for debate. How to fix it shouldn't be. If you have a quarterback who doesn't put the ball downfield, you have to have receivers who can give you yards after the catch. The west coast offense is predicated on this, and if that's the offense and McCoy is the quarterback, Heckert has to get some guys who can break a game open.
This is why I would target Kendall Wright from Baylor with the 22nd pick. I would consider moving ahead of Chicago to get him provided he gets that far. He's 5'11 and 196 lbs, so he's not a big guy, but should be able to add some bulk. His combine time in the 40 was 4.61, which caused some raised eyebrows. Peter King mentioned in his MMQB article:
7. I think the 4.6-ish 40-yard dash times of Baylor wideout Kendall Wright from the Scouting Combine, which threatened his status as a top-five wide receiver in the draft, are starting to be put in some perspective. Scouts were surprised at the time because Wright played faster on film -- and teams are seeing that now upon further review. I've seen his times on the official combine sheet, and they're as low as 4.49 and 4.51 seconds, with an average of 4.54 seconds. Not blazing, but not tight end-like, either. From what I'm told, Wright is a legitimate high 4.4-second guy, and it shouldn't crush him on draft weekend. Wright's time is a classic example of overrating what you hear about red flags at the Combine.
He did run a 4.41 at his pro day and plays to that speed. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch his senior year. He wasn't pressed at the line and like most rookie receivers he'll have to learn how to beat the jam, and his stats may be somewhat padded because of the offense and quarterback he played with, however he has the talent and gamebreaking ability that the Browns sorely lack. He flashed when I watched Baylor play and scored at least 1 touchdown in 10 of Baylor's 13 games. He should be able to play inside or outside in the Browns offense and would give McCoy a weapon who can take a crossing route to the house or run under a deep ball. This should take pressure off of McCoy and hopefully Trent Richardson.
The other guy I would love to see in a Browns uniform is Jarius Wright from Arkansas. He should be able to be had in the 4th round, and if I'm the Browns I'd take him even if I had taken Kendall Wright earlier. Conventional wisdom says you might not want to draft two sub-six foot wideouts in the same draft, but I think these types of players are what the Browns offense lacks. Little has size, Cribbs is 6'1, and Mo Mass is 6'2 so it's not as if we wouldn't have bigger receivers also.
Jarius Wright has reportedly been clocked at 4.27 in the 40 by the Arkansas coaches, he ran a 4.42 at the combine, with a 1.45 sec 10 yard split. This shows he's an explosive player (Mike Wallace had a 1.43) and can get up the field quickly. Also registered a 4.03 twenty yard shuttle and had a 38" vertical. He's only 5'9 and a half, 182 lbs, so he's likely only an inside slot type guy. However he's proven he can stay healthy and produce in the SEC. He had 1166 yards and 12 TDs his senior year, and averaged 16.9 yards per catch after 18.8 in his junior year. He will always be limited by his size however he offers the explosive capability that the Browns need.
It's impossible to predict what the Browns are going to do. I'm a big fan of both Kendall Wright and Jarius Wright and think they offer playmaking ability, something the Browns certainly need. The excuses made for the play of McCoy last season always center around his lack of weapons. This scenario, including taking Richardson at 4, certainly would give McCoy some weapons and give the front office and coaches a chance to evaluate whether he's the guy or not.
Some of the other wide receiver options include:
Stephen Hill - he's big fast and intriguing but may take more time to develop. I'd be fine with him if Wright was gone.
Reuben Randle - big and fast but not overly physical. I'd rather have Hill.
Alshon Jeffery - when I watched him play against Alabama his sophmore year I thought he was going to be a superstar. Gained weight (got fat) and wasn't that guy last season. Can make unbelievable catches but isn't overly quick or sudden and may not be able to separate. Boom or bust guy but I don't think he fits into our offense and would be more than surprised if he ended up a Brown. Could be Dwayne Bowe, could be Mike Williams. It's up to him.
Juron Criner - I'm a fan, thought was going to be really really good when he was a junior but people have cooled on him a bit. I still think he can be a really good player but is really going to have to work at it. Fits the Browns offense. Interesting take by Pat Kirwin on him in this scouting report.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1620389/juron-criner
T.Y. Hilton - A lot like Jarius Wright, offers more in the return game but has also been injured more.
Devier Posey - I'm an Ohio State guy but I think he can be a great value pick in the 4th or 5th, is going to require some coaching but has athletic gifts. Registered a 1.45 ten yard split at the combine. I think he could be a better value in the 4th than Randle in the 1st-2nd for what's it worth.
Jeff Fuller - Looks like Tarzan plays like Jane
Ryan Broyles - If not for a torn ACL late in the year he'd be a 2nd rounder, could be a good value in the 3rd or 4th. Great slot guy.
Jordan White - Late round guy, impossible to ignore his production. Broke all of Greg Jennings records at W Michigan. Has had knee problems but I like this guy and think he can play in the league.
Eric Page - another MAC guy who is limited by his size but has produced. More slippery than fast and offers value as a returner, late round guy.
Obviously there are others but these are the guys who intrigue me. Playmakers must be found in this draft at wideout. There are too many good ones not to. The Browns aren't going to a Super Bowl this year but McCoy has to be evaluated. The best way to open up the field for him is to add speed and ability at wideout, players that can make something happens when the ball is in their hands, and to me Kendall Wright and Jarius Wright are two players that can give you that.
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