The Cleveland Browns added size and a developmental body to their wide receiver room Tuesday, signing undrafted rookie Ben Patterson and waiving guard Jack Conley in a corresponding move.
Patterson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound target out of Texas-Permian Basin, originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent after the 2026 NFL Draft. The Jaguars waived him earlier in training camp. He will wear No. 38 in Cleveland.
The addition comes as the Browns deal with injuries at the position. Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash have been dealing with undisclosed issues, creating an opening for a physical presence who can compete for snaps and a practice-squad or roster spot during the preseason.
Patterson’s frame immediately stands out in a group that already includes second-round pick Denzel Boston and veteran Jerry Jeudy.
At UTPB, Patterson developed into one of the Lone Star Conference’s most productive receivers. In 2025 he posted 32 receptions for 678 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a robust 21.2 yards per catch.
Those numbers capped a three-year stretch in which he recorded at least 500 receiving yards and five scores each season. He finished his college career with 1,774 receiving yards (second in program history) and 16 touchdowns (third). A three-time All-LSC selection, he earned second-team honors in 2023 and 2025 and honorable mention in 2024.
The Fort Worth, Texas, native played high school football at All Saints before spending five years at UTPB, including a redshirt season. He was part of the Falcons’ first Lone Star Conference championship in 2023 and helped the program reach new heights in 2025, including its first two Division II playoff wins.
Patterson’s combination of height, length, and deep-ball ability gives the Browns a prototypical “big receiver” profile. At 220 pounds he has the mass to win contested catches and work the red zone, traits that often translate well for late-round or undrafted players trying to stick.
His reported speed (he has cited 4.3-range 40 times in interviews) suggests he is more than just a possession or jump-ball specialist.
For a Browns team still shaping its 2026 roster, the signing is a low-risk look at a player who produced consistently at the Division II level.
Conley, a practice-squad veteran last season, had been on and off the 90-man roster this offseason. Patterson now gets an opportunity to show whether his size and production can translate against NFL competition in the remaining preseason games.
The move is typical of late-August roster shuffling as teams evaluate depth and address injuries. Patterson’s physical tools give Cleveland another option as it finalizes its receiver group heading into the regular season.
