Who Should I Start? Arian Smith or Isaiah Bond

Monday, April 6, 6:29 PM

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Isaiah Bond had a disappointing rookie season in 2025, catching just 18 of 44 targets for 338 yards through 16 games. The speedy pass-catcher out of Texas was unable to develop much of a rapport with a subpar quarterback room featuring Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. On one hand, Year 2 is a common time for receivers to break out, so Bond could be due for a step forward in that regard. On the other hand, he's likely facing even more competition in the future. He spent last season operating behind Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman. Next season, he'll likely remain behind both of them, and there's also a growing sense that the Browns will select their WR1 of the future with the sixth overall pick in the draft. That would drop Bond to fourth on the depth chart, as well as fifth in the pass-catching pecking order when you also consider breakout tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Heading into Year 2 is encouraging for Bond, but his reduced role on the depth chart, coupled with poor quarterback play, will make it difficult for him to break out.