The Browns are reportedly tracking toward making a young addition to their offense.
Former Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond, who was considered one of the top 2025 NFL Draft prospects before being arrested in April, announced Thursday that he plans to sign with Cleveland after his sexual assault criminal case was no-billed.
If a deal is finalized, the 21-year-old Bond would join a Browns offense that has already carried a ton of off-the-field storylines with its new rookies. Shedeur Sanders’ draft slide, the quarterback competition involving Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel, and second-round running back Quinshon Judkins remaining unsigned due to a domestic battery case have all been offseason storylines for Cleveland prior to the Bond news.
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Here’s what to know about Bond planning to sign with the Browns, including the details of his criminal charges being dropped.
MORE:Â The latest updates on Shedeur Sanders’ oblique injury
Why did Isaiah Bond sign with Browns?Â
On Thursday, Bond released a statement on social media that indicated that the Browns were set to sign him to a contract following his criminal charges being dropped.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cleveland Browns for believing in me and allowing me the opportunity to continue my career in the NFL,” Bond wrote. “I’m determined to prove the Browns organization and everyone who believes in me right for putting their trust in me.”
ESPN then reported that while Bond does plan to sign with the Browns, no deal is finalized as of Thursday night.
Due to his April arrest on an outstanding sexual assault warrant, Bond went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft after initially being one of the top wide receiver prospects. On Thursday, the criminal charges against Bond were dropped due to the case against him being no-billed.
With Bond’s legal issues cleared, the Browns would be bringing in the wide receiver virtually as another addition to their 2025 rookie class, which included Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger, Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., Dillon Gabriel, Dylan Sampson, and Shedeur Sanders.
MORE: What to know about the battery allegations against Quinshon Judkins
Isaiah Bond’s sexual assault charges, explained
In April, Bond was arrested on an outstanding sexual assault warrant, then released from a Collin County (Texas) jail after posting the bail of $25,000. Following his release, Bond posted on social media that the accusation against him was “patently false.”
“Regarding the accusation made against me, I would appreciate the time and opportunity to defend myself and prove the claims made, patently false. I am in full cooperation with the authorities and will remain a willing and active participant in the investigation,” Bond said in the statement, per ESPN. “Unfortunately, claims like these prove to be harmful to all involved, absent full review. I kindly request that all reserve judgement until the authorities provide a complete report based on truth and evidence.”
Prior to his arrest, Bond was projected as a second-to-mid-round draft selection. He then went undrafted.
Bond also sued the woman who made the sexual assault accusations against him for defamation, with his lawyers saying that the encounter was consensual. That lawsuit, which asked for economic damages and a civil trial, was dismissed with prejudice in July by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.Â
On Thursday, the sexual assault case against Bond was no-billed by a Collin County grand jury, meaning he no longer faces criminal charges.
“After reviewing all the evidence presented, a Collin County grand jury returned a ‘no bill’ in the sexual assault charge involving Isaiah Bond, meaning no indictment will be issued. This concludes the criminal proceedings in this matter,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said in a statement, per ESPN.
Shortly after the news of Bond’s case being closed, he shared his intentions to sign with the Browns as a free agent.
Isaiah Bond college stats
Bond, known for his speed, was one of Texas’ top offensive weapons in the 2024 season. Prior to then, he spent two seasons at Alabama.
Here’s a look at Bond’s numbers over three collegiate seasons:
| Season | Team | Games | Receptions | Receiving Yards | YPC | TDs |
| 2022 | Alabama | 13 | 17 | 220 | 12.9 | 1 |
| 2023 | Alabama | 14 | 48 | 668 | 13.9 | 4 |
| 2024 | Texas | 14 | 34 | 540 | 15.9 | 5 |
| Totals: | Â | 41 | 99 | 1,428 | 14.4 | 10 |
MORE: The recovery timeline on Shedeur Sanders’ oblique injury
Isaiah Bond 40 time
Part of the reason for the hype surrounding Bond as an NFL Draft prospect was his blazing speed, as he ranked among the overall leaders in the 40-yard dash at the combine.
Bond ran an official 4.39, which was tied for ninth among wide receivers. His former Texas teammate, Matthew Golden, had the best wide receiver time at an official 4.29 seconds.
Coming into the combine, Bond told reporters that he was going to break Xavier Worthy’s record of 4.21 seconds “for sure,” and that he could run a 4.10 “if I’m feeling great.”
“I’m going to break the record tomorrow.” – Isaiah Bond
Are we about to see another @TexasFootball WR break the 40 record?! (via @jywattsports) pic.twitter.com/BEVhIfe3es
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2025
“What separates me from the rest of the draft class is the sheer speed. There’s not a receiver that has the speed and capabilities that I have,” Bond said at the combine, per ESPN. “It’s not just speed; I’m a complete wide receiver. I have amazing routes. If you watch the tape, you’ll see that.”
While Bond didn’t break the record as he predicted, he still showcased his speed at the combine:
Texas WR Isaiah Bond runs a 4.41u in his first 40 attempt.
đź“ş: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/VS3e59NLnn— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
Browns WR depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1. | Jerry Jeudy |
| 2. | Cedric Tillman |
| 3. | Jamari Thrash |
| 4. | Diontae Johnson |
| 5. | David Bell |
| 6. | DeAndre Carter |
Should Bond finalize his deal with the Browns, he’d become yet another player with clear talent and an intriguing background, but also with an unknown role in the team’s offense. Because he’d be considered an undrafted free agent who missed out on months of Cleveland’s camp, Bond would face an uphill battle to see playing time early in his rookie season.
In Cleveland’s current unofficial depth chart, the team’s three starters at wide receiver are Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman, and Jamari Thrash. Jeudy is the unquestioned No. 1, coming off a 1,229-yard season that put him among the NFL leaders. Tillman began to break out in 2024 and is tracking for a bigger role this season, while Thrash had just three receptions in his rookie season last year but has gotten some buzz in training camp.
The Browns also have two more veteran receivers who have become journeymen in Diontae Johnson and DeAndre Carter. Either could make the official roster as backup options, as could David Bell.
Bond’s potential fit within the Browns’ receiver depth chart could change as the 2025 season goes on. Talent-wise, there’s reason to believe he could work his way into a starting role, but he’s also far behind in practice and development, so he could need months to get up-to-speed.
Should he finalize his deal with Cleveland, expectations for Bond should be low due to there being more proven options in the Browns’ receiver room. But as the season goes on, Bond could become more involved, surpassing players like Johnson, Carter, Bell, and Thrash on the depth chart.
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