APRIL 16: Moving down from No. 6 remains a possibility to watch for in the Browns’ case, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports writes. In any event, he adds that Fano in particular is a prospect viewed as one Cleveland believes can handle left tackle duties at the NFL level. It will be interesting to see how the Browns proceed along the offensive line in general and with respect to Fano in particular on Day 1 of the draft.
APRIL 11: The draft needs in Cleveland are fairly obvious, and though they can’t address all of them in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they can address two. Early reports seem to indicate that wide receiver and offensive tackle are the biggest priorities for the Browns heading into the draft, but which position will they address with their sixth overall pick, and which will have to wait for pick No. 24?
Now, Cleveland didn’t lose anybody from its 2025 receiving corps, but the group from last year underperformed to a point that it can be considered a position of need. Additionally, there are only two players in the room not playing on contract years in 2026, and those players are only under contract for one more year than their corpsman. If the Browns are going to begin rebuilding the room around a new, young pair of hands, now would be an ideal time.
The situation on the offensive line is almost the opposite. With all five starters hitting the free agent market this offseason, Cleveland has been working to rebuild its line after the teardown. The team utilized free agency to bring in guard Zion Johnson and center Elgton Jenkins and traded for former Texans tackle Tytus Howard. It seems the door is open for guard Joel Bitonio to return, if he decides not to retire, but if he does, the Browns re-signed Teven Jenkins, who has plenty of starting experience at guard. The other tackle spot is currently being manned by Dawand Jones, the former fourth-round pick who’s started 20 games in his first three seasons.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there’s belief that a vast need for quality linemen and a large number of talented prospects could lead to a run on offensive tackles in the first round. At the same time, it’s believed that only two wide receivers could end up going in the top half of the draft, with the eventual WR3 projected to go anywhere from pick Nos. 16-19. Because of this, it would make much more sense for the Browns to address their offensive tackle need than their receiver need.
Locking down the draft’s top receiver — likely Ohio State’s Carnell Tate — would certainly be a great addition to the offense, but it would mean missing out on most of the class’s top tackle prospects if a run takes place. Locking down a top available tackle would mean missing out on Tate, and perhaps Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson and USC’s Makai Lemon, but there are several impact options that make perfect sense in the late-first or early-second round. It could be the difference of having Tate and choosing between Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor, Northwestern’s Caleb Tiernan, or Memphis’ Travis Burke or having one of Utah’s Spencer Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, or Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor then getting your pick of Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., Washington’s Denzel Boston, Alabama’s Germie Bernard, and Louisville’s Chris Bell.
An interesting additional factor to this situation is the reporting that the Browns have been shopping out their current draft slots in the hope of bringing in more Day 2 draft capital; they seemingly are willing to move down from either the sixth or 24th picks, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. That could explain the depth at which Cleveland has been researching top offensive tackle prospects, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. The team hosted Utah’s other tackle, Caleb Lomu, two days ago, per Jackson McCurry of The Dawg Land podcast, and ESPN’s Jordan Reid was “shocked’ to hear that the Browns reportedly like Proctor at No. 6.
In theory, both could be trade down targets. Proctor has routinely found himself ranked behind the likes of Mauigoa and Fano throughout the draft process, and even more recently, Freeling and, in some cases, Clemson’s Blake Miller have snuck by him in the eyes of draft pundits, as well.
Perhaps, the Browns are not interested in selecting Proctor at No. 6 overall but, instead, interested in trading back to a place in the first round in which they may still be able to walk away with Proctor — or, if there’s a serious run at the position, Lomu — while adding some picks in the process. With the depth of wide receivers listed above, they could easily attempt to do the same at that position, if they feel their preferred option may be a reach at No. 24.
The Browns’ toss up in priorities between tackle and wide receiver alone make it impossible to predict who their top overall pick will be. Adding in the potential for a run or drought at either position or a Browns’ trade down from either spot makes even speculation a wild goose chase. It seems the Browns are making plans for a number of contingencies, but it looks like offensive tackle and wide receiver — whatever the order — remain the top priorities 12 days out.
Its always good when you dont lost anybody from your 2025 rec. Corps.
Ain’t nobody got time to lost nobody these days.
Where’s Waldo?
Taking a tackle over a wideout this year would be the first smart thing the Browns have done in awhile.
Taking Mason Graham over a tackle last year was beyond stupid. They better hope he ends up being a Hall of Famer and spends his entire career with them.
I’m sure the Bengals are happy with Jamarr Chase over Penei Sewell. Sometimes a WR is a better option over a tackle
Way to completely miss the point to mention something completely irrelevant.
No WR this year is the franchise WR Chase or Jefferson or any of the other recent franchise WRs are. Period.
The Browns have desperately needed an OT for years now and do not have the offensive superstars or QB that can mask that issue.
Graham was a luxury pick in a draft where they desperately needed an OT.
Campbell helped get the Pats to the Superbowl.
Are you sure about that? They haven’t won anything and Burrow has been constantly injured. I think Sewell would have been the better choice.
Graham was a very solid pick and Garrett doesn’t break that record without Graham and Collins at DT … did you see LT Will Campbell give up 5 sacks to Myles Garrett?? He WAS the top LT in last years draft….no thanks
Will Campbell was taken the pick before Graham and that hasn’t worked out so well as of yet.
He helped them get to a Superbowl. I’d say it worked out okay.
Ridiculous comments dismissing a kid because of a bad game after he had a strong rookie season.
Problem is …. he’s a true guard whom the Patriots drafted to play OT…..
I think they are either going:
WR1 at pick 6 and T4 at pick 24
or T1 at pick 6 and WR4 at pick 24
Definitely not going WR with that 1st pick…..LT or Defense
sorry but Tate is indeed in play for them at 6
Don’t count on it ….
Trade back, Browns. Your roster sucks and you need a real QB in next year’s draft.
Monroe Freeling….please….hard no for Proctor
If, as has been suggested, Miami is open to trading back from number 11, I would like to see the Browns swap #24 and a couple mid round picks in ’26 and ’27 to pick up #11. Then we could grab Tate at #6 and one of the top OTs at #11.
It would take a lot more than a couple mid-round picks to move from #24 to #11. Start with a 2nd round pick and add from there
To me, the ideal scenario is to trade back a little and maybe a get 2nd or 3rd round pick. I’d have to see how that compares to the draft assets in teams picking 8 through 12 and their needs. Anyway, take T at the now slightly lower 1st round pick. WR at 24. There will be several really good ones there…maybe not instantly elite but big guys good at contested catches (like Boston from Washington). Use that extra 2nd or 3rd round pick to take another WR or OL, best available.
Unless they get an offer they cannot refuse, I would not trade for picks next year. I believe getting guys THIS year to build the offense and more depth throughout.
“Browns to Prioritize T Over WR in First Round”.
Team is said to prefer that over Coffee.
Duh.
Only a few starting T, compared to very deep WR draft.
Draft is deep at WR …. get your LT …. just NOT Proctor