Bernard, who played college football at Michigan State, Washington and then Alabama, posted career highs last season with 64 receptions, 862 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished with 2,203 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 155 catches across his collegiate career, and measures roughly 6-foot-1, 206 pounds with a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and a 32.5-inch vertical.
Cleveland is unlikely to take Bernard with its two first-round picks (No. 6 and No. 24), but he could be a target at No. 39 in Round 2. The Browns may also consider adding a play-maker at receiver early on Day 2 even if they select a pass-catcher in the opening round, which many draft projections have suggested.
Pre-draft activity shows Cleveland’s appetite for receivers. A recent tracker noted the Browns hosted 15 players in recent days, eight of them wideouts, reflecting a clear emphasis on adding pass-catching talent to support the passing game.
The Browns’ current wide-receiver situation centers on Jerry Jeudy, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson in the mix for 2026 and beyond. Head coach Todd Monken is known for leaning on multiple receiving options, and Cleveland has been linked to pursuing more pass-catching help to complement Jeudy and emerging talents like Harold Fannin Jr.
Beyond Bernard, Cleveland has been linked with several other WR prospects likely to be considered in the 6-overall to 39-range, including Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon and Jordyn Tyson. Additional targets in the mix for Day 2 include Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion and Omar Cooper Jr., with all six receivers having met with the Browns in the pre-draft process.
