Browns’ OL Rookies Getting First-Team Reps
The Browns are in the process of replacing all five starters on their offensive line, and in the effort of finding a new starting five, Cleveland utilized three of its 10 draft selections to address the position. The team spent a first- and third round pick on collegiate offensive tackles Spencer Fano (Utah) and Austin Barber (Florida), respectively, and a fifth-round pick on Alabama center Parker Brailsford. Zac Jackson of The Athletic detailed how each of the team’s rookies on the offensive line have been used so far in spring practices.
In rookie minicamp and early Organized Team Activities, Fano has been playing left tackle and Barber right, which is opposite where each player lined up at their respective alma maters. The team is hoping that Fano will eventually take a convincing hold of the starting left tackle job, but currently, Dawand Jones is getting the best look at that spot early on. Fano started at left tackle as a freshman with the Utes but has played right tackle ever since. It will certainly be a challenge to switch sides in his transition to a starting role in the NFL, but practicing against the likes of Myles Garrett everyday could to wonders for his development.
If Fano is able to unseat Jones, then Jones will go on competing with the next rookie, Barnes, for the primary swing tackle role. Jackson speculates that Barnes could also end up getting some looks at guard, which could be really beneficial for Barnes’ roster security if he isn’t able to secure the backup tackle role. Of the three rookies, Barnes has seen the least amount of time with the first-team offense, but it sounds like the team’s focus for him has been developing his versatility.
Unlike Barnes, Brailsford is reportedly seen only as a center, but that hasn’t stopped him from seeing his fair share of first-team reps. With presumed starting center Elgton Jenkins and fellow center Luke Wypler both not practicing, Brailsford has benefitted with a good amount of time on the first-team offense. Jenkins is still working his way back from the broken leg that ended his 2025 campaign, while Wypler is recovering from a knee injury.
Realistically, only Fano is expected to earn a starting job in his first year of NFL play, but Brailsford and Barnes both have big opportunities in front of them, if they can impress in these early looks. With Wypler and Jones on expiring deals in 2026, both rookies will be given the chance to convince the team to allow the veterans to walk in free agency.
Browns’ Starting OL Appears Set; Zak Zinter’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
The Browns will deploy their first pick in this year’s draft, Spencer Fano, at left tackle, which officially locks offseason trade acquisition Tytus Howard into the right tackle job, as Zac Jackson of The Athletic confirms. Likewise, free agent signee Zion Johnson is entrenched in the left guard role, and Jackson says neither Johnson nor Howard will be moved from their respective spots unless there is an injury or unexpected development.
Given Howard’s experience at multiple positions on the offensive line and the fact that Fano worked on the right side over his final two collegiate seasons, it was theoretically possible Howard – the first major addition to the Browns’ O-line this year – would at least open his Cleveland tenure on the blind side (or even at one of the guard slots, depending on how the team’s offseason and draft unfolded). But the Johnson and Elgton Jenkins signings, Teven Jenkins re-up, and Fano decision have clarified the Browns’ wishes for their starting front.
While head coach Todd Monken recently stopped short of confirming Elgton Jenkins would man the center position, the nature of the former Packer’s contract (two years, $24MM) suggests he will start, and neither Teven Jenkins nor Johnson have experience at the pivot. Jackson confirms Elgton Jenkins is the presumptive starting center once he recovers from the lower leg fracture that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
Therefore, Fano at LT, Johnson at LG, Elgton Jenkins at C, Teven Jenkins at RG, and Howard at RT appears to be the preferred alignment. Jackson does say Jenkins (who started just four games in ‘25, his first year with the club) is the right guard “for now,” thus leaving open the possibility he could be usurped by an incumbent player or yet another outside addition.
For instance, third-round rookie Austin Barber may push Teven Jenkins for RG duties, as Jackson notes. Cleveland made a significant move up the board on Day 2 of the draft to land Barber, who played both left and right tackle as a collegian. In addition to a possible guard battle with Teven Jenkins, Barber will vie for the swing tackle role along with Dawand Jones and KT Leveston.
Meanwhile, Luke Wypler and fifth-round rookie Parker Brailsford will battle each other for the backup center gig — Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says Brailsford actually has a real chance to win the starting job over Elgton Jenkins — and Kendrick Green is also in the mix for a job as an interior reserve. Zak Zinter, a third-round choice in 2024, saw minimal action last season, and Jackson suggests in a separate piece the Michigan product may no longer have a place on the roster. Zinter worked behind Johnson as the second-team LG in voluntary minicamp.
Browns Sign First-Round T Spencer Fano, Seven Other Draftees
Friday has expectedly been busy with respect to teams working out rookie contracts. The Browns are among those which have finalized a number of deals with draftees.
Cleveland announced today that eight draft picks have been signed. First-rounder Spencer Fano is among them. The Utah offensive lineman was taken ninth overall after the Browns executed a long-anticipated trade down the board. That swap with Kansas City allowed Cleveland to move to the No. 9 slot.
Eyeing an offensive addition in the top 10, the Browns were comfortable with the trade upon finding out the Chiefs would be taking cornerback Mansoor Delane. That left Cleveland with three targets at the time of the swap: Fano, Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa and Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson. Tyson was drafted at No. 8, and the Browns went with Fano one pick later to make him the top blocker of the 2026 draft.
After one year at left tackle with Utah, Fano moved to the right side to accommodate Caleb Lomu. Fano thrived in that new role, but his arm length led to questions about the possibility of holding up on the blindside at the NFL level. Nevertheless, he will at least begin his Browns tenure at left tackle. Fano succeeding in that spot or finding another in short order would be critical for a Cleveland O-line which will field five new starters compared to last season.
Denzel Boston is the next highest-drafted rookie to sign with the Browns today. The Browns gave him a fully guaranteed contract worth $12.385MM over four years, including a $5.467MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The Washington receiver was on the radar of plenty of teams leading up to the draft, and Cleveland considered trading back into the Day 1 order to acquire him. Instead, Boston remained on the board through to pick No. 39. He will look to contribute right away for a Browns team desperate for improved production and efficiency in the passing game.
Given today’s news, only first-round receiver KC Concepcion and second-round safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren have yet to sign their rookie deals. That comes as little surprise, with many other players selected in the same range as them still unsigned at this point. In any event, the Browns will begin their rookie minicamp with most of necessary work already done on the contract front.
Here is an updated look at where things stand with the Browns’ draft class:
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU) (signed)
Browns Add No. 86 From Chargers, Add T Austin Barber
Holding nine more picks in this draft, the Browns will send some to the Chargers to move up to No. 86. Cleveland added Florida tackle Austin Barber.
Cleveland will send Nos. 105, 145 and 206 to Los Angeles, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Browns had just obtained No. 105 from the Giants.
The Browns came into this draft widely viewed as wanting to leave Round 1 with a wide receiver and a tackle. They will now leave Day 2 with two more reinforcements at each position. Cleveland traded down (via Kansas City) and took Utah’s Spencer Fano — this draft’s first O-lineman selected — at No. 9. The team then added KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston at Nos. 24 and 39. Barber will provide more help for a Browns team that lost nearly all of its 2025 O-line nucleus.
The 6-foot-7, 317-pound Barber garnered experience at both tackle spots at Florida, where he started 38 games. He was a full-time starter on the left side in his last two years with the Gators. Pro Football Focus awarded Barber the second-highest run-blocking grade among all tackles last season, a year in which he earned third-team All-SEC honors. Barber is likely to begin his NFL career as a swing tackle in Cleveland, which has made sizable offseason investments in Fano and Tytus Howard. After acquiring Howard from the Texans in early March, the Browns gave him a three-year, $63MM extension.