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Browns UDFA Aaron Anderson #1 of the LSU Tigers

Back in 2022, Cleveland Browns UDFA Aaron Anderson was one of the top wide receiver recruits in the nation, ranked No. 5 at his position, behind the likes of the Bears’ Luther Burden and the Panthers‘ Tetairoa McMillan. But after beginning his career at Alabama, where he was slowed by injury and buried on the depth chart, Anderson transferred to LSU, showed promise in 2024, then fizzled in 2025 along with the entirety of the Tigers offense. Undrafted this year, Anderson took the opportunity to sign with Cleveland, arguably the most receiver-needy team in the NFL.

His flaws are obvious. Anderson is only 5-foot-8, though he is well built at 191 pounds. He is not a burner, either, with a 40-yard dash time of 4.55. Amid the injury-wracked year for all of LSU’s offense, Anderson played nine games and put up 33 catches for 398 yards and no touchdowns on the season.

By the time the draft came around, Anderson was a longshot to be picked, and he ranked just No. 48 among receivers by Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Yet, in some of the first action for the Browns this offseason–last week’s rookie minicamp–it was Anderson who was catching passes, and attention.

Aaron Anderson ‘Caught Pass After Pass’

In discussing the Browns minicamp on Wednesday, longtime Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com and host Dan Labbe singled out Anderson as an attention-grabber one week into the team’s spring and summer.

Said Cabot: “We are also thinking Aaron Anderson that we liked. He caught pass after pass after pass. He is a little guy, but I will tell you what, he looked the part in rookie minicamp. He was a lot of fun to watch.”

The Browns have decidedly few spots filled on the wide receiver depth chart: Jerry Jeudy is presumably the WR1, with new rookie draftees KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston figuring prominently, too. The team signed special teams stalwart Tylan Wallace, too, and he is likely to stick. After that, though, it’s a wide-open battle for the depth spots at receiver.

And Anderson has at least earned a closer look. As the SB Nation site Dawgs by Nature wrote, “Concepcion and Boston are different style receivers, but they look really good. They will instantly improve the Browns’ passing game. Another receiver who showed out was the tryout guy, Anderson. He has clean routes with elite footwork.”

Potential Slot Receiver for Browns

Still, it is May, and many an NFL fan needs to be reminded of that. You don’t win roster spots in the spring. Anderson has earned attention for the Browns, but nothing beyond that yet.

His scouting report from NFL.com had him as a UDFA this offseason.

From the site: “Anderson is a short but stocky slot receiver with good speed but below-average hands. Injuries and quarterback play slowed his production in 2025 … His routes are rhythmic and fairly disciplined, but he fails to create enough separation from his break points. He has the play strength to compete for the contested throws he’s likely to see against tight press man.

“Anderson has the talent and toughness NFL teams like to see, but his lack of size/explosiveness could make it challenging for him to earn a spot as a backup.”