Alec Pierce, Cincinnati Bearcats, Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Benjamin Solomon/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Browns should procure a receiving target for Deshaun Watson with at least one of their day-two picks in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft.
After orchestrating a blockbuster trade to acquire former Houston Texans franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, it would serve the Cleveland Browns to get him an offensive playmaker or two in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Cleveland may have had to give up its own first-round selection at No. 13 to Houston to land Watson, but the Browns do have a trio of top-100 picks to provide their new starting quarterback some help. The Browns have the No. 44 overall pick in the second round, the No. 78 overall pick in the third round and the No. 99 overall pick in the third round. Getting a receiver would be so clutch.
Regardless of if Watson or his backup Jacoby Brissett plays the bulk of the season, Cleveland needs to procure at least one wide receiver with one of their three top-100 picks this spring.
Cleveland Browns: 3 wide receivers to target for Deshaun Watson in NFL Draft
3
Alec Pierce
WR Cincinnati Bearcats
Alec Pierce played a big part in Cincinnati’s rise to prominence under Luke Fickell
While he would be a total reach at No. 44 in the second round, the Browns could potentially add Cincinnati Bearcats wide receiver Alec Pierce with either of their third-round selections, probably the compensatory one coming at No. 99. The 6-foot-3 and 213-pound receiver played a massive part in the Bearcats’ rise to national prominence under the guidance of head coach Luke Fickell.
Though he may play on the other side of the ball Fickell specializes in, Pierce showed he was a reliable target for top-five quarterback prospect Desmond Ridder during their Cincinnati run. He leaves the Bearcats with 106 career catches for 1,851 yards and 13 trips to pay dirt, including an impressive Second Team All-AAC nod in 2021 with 52 grabs for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.
The former three-star recruit out of Glen Ellyn, Illinois has had no issues playing in the elements thus far, so he will do just fine playing in the NFL‘s black and blue division. While he is not likely to be anything close to a No. 1 wide receiver professionally, Pierce projects as a high-end top-three receiver on a team as part of an ensemble cast. With the right system, he can be very productive.
If the Browns wait until No. 99 to address its wide receiver issues, Pierce will likely be available.