ESPN Identifies Browns Rookie as Sleeper to Win Major NFL Award

The Cleveland Browns are not a team many expect to be a major player in the 2026 NFL season — until proven otherwise. They have won just eight games in the last two seasons, and in both campaigns, finished last in the AFC North Division.

The quarterback situation of Cleveland, for one, does not exude much confidence among fans. Deshaun Watson has been given the keys to the offense on the field after winning a battle in the offseason for the starting quarterback role over Shedeur Sanders, and who knows how good the former Clemson Tigers quarterback can be in 2026.

In any case, the Browns are moving on with Watson, and his connection with his weapons downfield will be a major point of interest. Speaking of which, the Browns have an intriguing rookie in their wide receiving room, who could eventually become a difference-maker for Cleveland's attack .

Browns Rookie WR Has Intriguing Potential to Win Major NFL Award According to ESPN

First-year wideout KC Concepcion was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Browns seemingly believing in his potential to be a big contributor down the road for their offense.

Over at the Worldwide Leader in Sports, Concepcion is viewed as a sleeper to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Concepcion is a sleeper candidate to win OROY because of the multiple ways he could shine as a rookie. He not only has inside-out versatility in new coach Todd Monken's offense, but he's also a dynamic returner who can create positive plays on special teams. In Year 1 with Monken, playmakers outside of TE Harold Fannin Jr. are still unknown. Concepcion could quickly climb the ranks of reliable options and prove to be one of the more explosive young players in the NFL.

Concepcion will be given ample chance by Cleveland to show what he can bring to the table, especially in the early goings of the season, as he's expected to start alongside Jerry Jeudy and Denzel Boston, who was drafted a round later after Concepcion.

In his lone season with the Texas A&M Aggies in 2025, Concepcion racked up 919 receiving yards and nine touchdowns (most in the ACC) on 61 receptions through 13 games.