BEREA — KC Concepcion wrote a letter to NFL general managers in the runup to the NFL Draft. He chronicled his stuttering and its impact on his childhood while making it clear he didn’t want to be defined by it. He pointed out the other obstacles he’d overcome, including his dad going to prison multiple times.
He declared himself “the best receiver in this draft.”
He has the chance to prove that with the Browns, who drafted the Texas A&M wideout with the No. 24 pick Thursday night.
“I’m versatile. I make plays. I can play anywhere. I can run any route,” Concepcion said on a conference call minutes after being picked. “Whatever I give you, you guys are going to be getting a dawg all over the field.
“Get your popcorn ready. I’m ready right now. I’m ready to play. I’m ready to change the organization.”
Browns Spencer Fano and KC Concepcion on being drafted. pic.twitter.com/B8h26SBwpu
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By Friday afternoon, he was in town and wearing a Browns hat as he met with the media with his mom, dad and girlfriend watching. He said he got a good feeling about landing with the Browns during his predraft visit.
“After we had our walkthrough, we shot hoops. It was just bonding more, getting to know each other more,” he said. “And I feel like after that it was a strong possibility that if I was there at 24, I could become a Cleveland Brown for sure.”
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For the first time in his seven years as Browns general manager, Andrew Berry took a receiver in the first round.
“He’s been a dynamic producer at N.C. State, Texas A&M,” Berry said of Concepcion. “He’s electric with the ball in his hands and we’re looking forward to having him.”
Berry opened the draft by trading down from No. 6. He got third- and fifth-round picks to move down to No. 9 and selected Utah’s Spencer Fano to play left tackle.
Berry addressed the team’s other most pressing need with Concepcion. The pick was acquired last year from the Jaguars in a draft-day blockbuster.
The Browns were desperate for help at wideout on an offense that averaged 15.2 points in 2024 and 16.4 last season. They’re optimistic Jerry Jeudy will return to the Pro Bowl form he displayed in 2024 after a disappointing 2025 but had nothing but question marks behind him at the position.
Previously, Berry hadn’t selected a receiver before the third round. He hasn’t had much success there — Anthony Schwartz, David Bell and Cedric Tillman, who’s still on the roster.
In two years at North Carolina State and the final season at Texas A&M, Concepcion (5-foot-11½, 191 pounds) totaled 185 catches for 2,218 yards and 25 touchdowns. He averaged 16.2 yards per punt return with touchdowns of 79 and 80 yards. He led the SEC with nine receiving touchdowns in 2025.
He lined up outside and in the slot for the Aggies — Berry said he’ll continue to do that — and won the 2025 Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football. He was the first player in school history with a receiving touchdown, rushing touchdown and punt return touchdown in the same season.
The biggest concern was 19 drops over the three seasons.
“I just accept it. I have had drops, but it’s more so concentration. Just focusing on the balls,” he said.”I’ve been working nonstop at it every day. It’s going to get fixed for sure.”
Berry downplayed the drops, saying every receiver besides Larry Fitzgerald has them.
“It’s really relative to the population,” Berry said. “I know that gets talked about, but he has natural dexterity. It’s nothing extreme … it’s not an outlier relative to other receivers in the draft class. I know that’s been the primary talking point but we’re comfortable with KC’s hands.”
Concepcion confirmed he had arthroscopic knee surgery March 12. He said he’ll be on the field May 8 for the start of rookie minicamp.
“I feel great. I’m back running. I’m back running routes. I’m back lifting,” he said. “So by the time the rookie minicamp comes, I’m ready to go.”
Concepcion, 21, was the fourth receiver drafted, behind Ohio State’s Carnell Tate (No. 4 to the Titans), Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson (No. 8 to the Saints) and USC’s Makai Lemon (No. 20 to the Eagles). The Browns picked him over Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. and Washington’s Denzel Boston.
New coach Todd Monken had success with receiver Zay Flowers as the coordinator in Baltimore, and Concepcion has been compared to him.
“I do think there are some similarities in terms of the movement skills, the twitch, honestly some of the questions regarding the hands coming out,” Berry said. “I think the one thing that maybe gets a little bit lost is KC is a much bigger player than Zay, but I think there is some overlap in the characteristics. Look, if we get a player who’s comparable to Zay Flowers when we’re sitting here in three years, we’ll be elated.”
Concepcion called Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson “legendary” and said he’d get open and catch the ball from whoever wins the quarterback competition. He has a little history with Sanders.
“Whenever I had entered the transfer portal after my sophomore season, I had actually went down to Colorado and met Shedeur,” he said. “He’s a great guy, a great leader. I just cannot wait to build that relationship and build that connection with him.”
Berry was blown away by Concepcion’s journey and letter.
“I told him when he was on his 30 visit, I think it’s incredible what he’s overcome and gone through in his life,” he said. “I called him after the letter, I was like, ‘Hey, look, I thought that was really awesome.’ That was separate from obviously liking him as a prospect.
“I’ll share one story when KC visited. I was like, ‘Hey, I hope you’re a Brown, but if you’re not, I sure hope you’re in the NFC because I don’t want to face you.’ And then I told his agent afterward, ‘Hey, everything that that kid’s about, everything that he’s overcome, if he’s not here, he’s got a fan.’ I really love the person, and he’s obviously a dynamic football player.”
Concepcion said he wants to be a role model for children who stutter and be “that positive influence for everybody.”
He finished his letter to the general managers, which was posted on The Players’ Tribune, with the following:
“Before I get out of here, I do want to say, once again, for all to hear, that I’m the best receiver in this draft,” he wrote. “But, at the end of the day, I’m so much more than just a football player. And any team that picks me is going to realize that immediately. So if you’re a GM out there reading this, put me on your team, and let’s get to work.
“You’re not going to regret calling my name. Never. And I mean never. Did I stutter?”
