Cleveland Browns Training Camp 2025: WR Preview, Part 2 – More slot contenders, and returners

Cleveland could get a boost at WR if Diontae Johnson has the right mindset.

Our Cleveland Browns training camp preview on the wide receiver position continues below with Part 2. You can catch up on Part 1 here.

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5. Jamari Thrash – Backup WR

Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190 lbs | Age: 24
Experience: 2 years | College: Louisville

In Part 1, I’m here talking about David Bell and Michael Woods as candidates for the No. 3 receiver role, and also talking about veteran receiver Diontae Johnson. In the preliminary poll results for the job, though, I did not expect Jamari Thrash to be leading the way.

Thrash, a fifth-round pick from last year’s draft, played in 9 games, but finished the season with just 3 catches for 22 yards. Dropped passes plagued him a bit in college, and he had at least one notable drop for the Browns as a rookie. But in the grand scheme of things, we barely got the chance to see what he’s capable of. It’s crazy to me how Cleveland has three draft picks in Bell, Woods, and Thrash, and how little combined action they’ve seen.

Thrash can have a degree of explosiveness, but he’ll have to have a better training camp with good concentration on the ball to be a contributor this season. I don’t think anyway is “safe” per se when it comes to roster spots after the Top 2 spots. Thrash may have a hair more of favoritism because he was drafted more recently, but I don’t think it would be outrageous if he doesn’t make the roster, for example.

Final Roster Odds: 70%

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6. Diontae Johnson – Veteran WR

Height: 5-10 | Weight: 183 lbs | Age: 29
Experience: 7 years | College: Toledo

The guy with the biggest boom/bust potential on perhaps the entire team this training camp for the Browns is Diontae Johnson. He signed a 1-year, minimum salary contract with Cleveland after having been an 85+ catch, 900+ yard receiver with Pittsburgh for three years.

In 2024, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers. He started 7 games, catching 30 passes for 357 yards and 3 touchdowns. Then, he was traded to the Ravens, but was suspended for one game after he refused to enter the team’s Week 13 game. The reason? He was unhappy with his lack of playing time up until that point. They waived him in late-December, and then he was claimed by the Texans. He briefly rejoined the Ravens in January, but was set to become a free agent — and that’s when the Browns signed him in April.

DBN’s Barry Shuck did a great profile and summary on Johnson recently. This offseason, Johnson has tried to move on from his disastrous 2024 season. It could all depend on his mindset. He won’t be given the No. 3 receiving job, and he has to know that. He also has to know that if he puts in a solid camp, he could very well be the favorite to claim that No. 3 receiving role. And if you add in the type of production he’s capable of bringing, then suddenly, the Browns’ Top 3 receivers don’t look so bad. It’s just a lot of “ifs,” though. It could go the other way with a lackluster attitude, and if Cleveland sees that, they’ll have no issue just releasing him.

You also have to think that the No. 4 receiver on this team won’t contribute much each week. Given Johnson’s mentality last year, if he’s not the No. 3 guy, there’s not much sense in stashing him on the roster for a few snaps here and there. Johnson also has some punt return experience, but hasn’t done that regularly since the 2020 season.

Final Roster Odds: 50%

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7. DeAndre Carter – Backup WR

Height: 5-8 | Weight: 188 lbs | Age: 32
Experience: 8 years | College: Sacramento State

Could there be another name that sneaks into the slot receiver mix? DeAndre Carter was signed by the Browns in March. He’ll be entering his 8th season, and although he has typically been a reserve and special teamer, you can look back to the 2022 season, when he was effective from the slot with the Los Angeles Chargers (46 catches for 538 yards and 3 touchdowns).

The bigger thing on Carter’s resume is his return experience. He’s been a kick returner for a handful of teams over the years. Notably, though, one of his best seasons as a return man came with the new kickoff rules last year with the Bears. Last year, on 15 kick returns, he had 479 yards (31.9 yards per return). He has also been a consistent punt returner for teams. Last year, he had 17 returns for 158 yards (9.3 yards per return). Andrew Berry has tried his hand at various return specialists over the past few years, and it hasn’t worked out. We’ll monitor Carter’s special teams edge, and see if he can also make a dent up the depth chart at receiver.

Final Roster Odds: 60%

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8. Kaden Davis – Backup WR

Height: 6-1 | Weight: 193 lbs | Age: 26
Experience: 1 year | College: NW Missouri State University

Kaden Davis was an undrafted free agent in 2022. He signed with the Denver Broncos, spending most of the season on their practice squad. He then played a little bit in the UFL in 2023, before signing with the Arizona Cardinals and being on their practice squad. In 2024, his offseason was with the Detroit Lions, before bouncing on-and-off the Broncos’ practice squad. In December 2024, Cleveland took their turn to sign him to their practice squad, and even elevated him for the season finale.

Even though it was just one game, Davis served as the Browns’ kick returner and had 3 returns for 107 yards (his longest being 40 yards). Davis and Carter should be expected to get reps at kick return this camp, but it’s hard to imagine him making the leap to a full-time roster when it hasn’t happened across several teams over the years.

Final Roster Odds: 10%

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