Cleveland selects KC Concepcion in first round, 24th overall

On Thursday, KC Concepcion became the first Texas A&M receiver to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in more than a decade.

The Cleveland Browns selected Concepcion with the 24th pick in the first round.

The last A&M receiver taken in the first round was Mike Evans, who was taken with the seventh overall selection by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014.

Like Evans, Concepcion earned All-American and All-Southeastern Conference honors.

Concepcion, who transferred to A&M after two productive seasons at NC State, exceeded expectations in his one year with the Aggies.

In 2025, he had 61 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 75 yards and a touchdown. As a punt returner, he averaged 18.24 yards on 25 attempts and scored touchdowns against UTSA and LSU.

Concepcion was the recipient of the Paul Hornung Award, which recognizes the most versatile player in college football.

Fast and elusive, the 6-foot, 196-pound speedster led the SEC and ranked 10th nationally with 41 receptions that covered 10 yards or more. He had seven catches that resulted in gains of 30 yards or more.

Concepcion is the highest-drafted A&M receiver since Christian Kirk was taken in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

He’s also the fifth Aggies receiver to be drafted since A&M entered the SEC in 2012. He joins Evans, Kirk, Ainias Smith (fifth round by Philadelphia in ’24), Damion Ratley (sixth round by Cleveland in ’18) and Josh Reynolds (fourth round by the Los Angeles Rams in ’17).