The Cleveland Browns knew they had to improve their wide receiver group after ranking last in the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdown catches last season. So they used two of their first three picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on the position.
Even though they added KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, the Browns expected Jerry Jeudy to lead the unit, at least to begin the season. The veteran was part of an overall down year in 2025, but as one of the highest-paid players on the team, he was being counted on to bounce back.
Through the first three games, that has been far from the case. Jeudy has two receptions on five targets for 26 yards, which is well behind the production of Concepcion and Boston, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
That is why analyst Anthony Lima is calling out Jeudy, saying he has no excuses this year with the Browns more stable at quarterback.
“[Jerry Jeudy] is the least productive receiver at his pay scale that I can remember. It wasn’t all his fault last year. He had four different quarterbacks throwing to him, so that’s not all his fault,” Lima said.
“He is the least productive receiver at his pay scale that I can remember.”@SportsBoyTony@KenCarman says Jerry Jeudy should be thankful for Denzel Boston:
“I think he needs to be very thankful for Denzel Boston on this team, or else he’d be getting ridiculed.”#Browns pic.twitter.com/x6nwmQZ3Ph
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) September 30, 2026
Cleveland acquired Jeudy in a trade with the Denver Broncos during the 2024 offseason. The Browns then gave him a three-year contract extension worth up to $58 million, with $41 million guaranteed.
It was a deal worthy of a No. 1 wide receiver, and Jeudy lived up to that status in his first year with the Browns, posting a franchise-record 90 catches for 1,229 yards and four touchdowns. However, last year, that production dropped by almost half, with 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns, which was still good enough to lead the team’s wide receivers.
Using a first-round pick on Concepcion and a second-round choice on Boston, it was clear that the Browns were reinforcing the position for the future. They could not have expected it to arrive already, with Boston already established as the No. 1 big-play option for Deshaun Watson, making nine catches for 195 yards and two long TDs.
Meanwhile, Jeudy has been seen pouting on the bench, which is more exposure than he has gotten on the field during games. It has already led to trade rumors, but his contract could make him difficult to deal.
So, the Browns must find a way to make Jeudy a viable part of their offense, starting Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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