Browns NFL draft: Predicting 2 1st round picks before NFL free agency
· Yahoo Sports
Despite the 2026 NFL Draft being over a month and a half away, the Cleveland Browns are starting to figure out their plans and what they want to do. In terms of NFL free agency, the team will be aggressive but will make cautious additions that are beneficial to the team. The focal point is to rebuild the offense, and the team got an early start by trading for RT Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans earlier this week.
Could the team draft another tackle with their 1st round pick? Or draft a receiver? Both? It’s possible the team will draft both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver, but it won’t be in the order that fans expect.
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OT at #6 should be penciled in
NFL Network Daniel Jeremiah posted this tweet when it comes to the offensive linemen in this upcoming draft:
There are 7 OT's with potential to go in 1st rd. After that group, I could see a gap to the 3rd rd. If you want one, you are going to probably have to take one higher than you'd like in RD 1.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 3, 2026
In terms of this offensive tackle class, the possibility exists that we could see a surplus of offensive tackles go in the first round after strong showings in the combine.
- Miami OT Francis Mauigoa
- Utah OT’s Spencer Fano & Caleb Lomu
- Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
- Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
- Arizona State OT Max Ihenachor
- Clemson OT Blake Miller
Out of all the names listed, the Browns can’t go wrong. Mauigoa and Fano are the two names most fans are familiar with, but Freeling is someone who is rising up the boards, publicly. Freeling is the best pass protector out of his peers, but what draws teams to him is his size and his athleticism. Considering that Cleveland already has their right tackle situation figured out, Freeling is the logical pick for the Browns to be their left tackle. Freeling having a strong showing at the combine is enough for the Browns to pull the trigger on drafting him sixth overall.
WR comes later with a trade-up possible
Educated guess, but the Browns are likely going to draft a receiver with their second pick. Whether it’s by trading up or selecting one at #24, the team is going to address the receiver room.
As with the offensive lineman, the team can’t go wrong with any receiver they choose. Most, if not all, Browns fans want Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, but there’s almost no chance Tate will be available by the time they pick the second time. It’s possible Tate falls in the draft (whether it’s due to his 40 time or other concerns that aren’t valid), but not that far.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is another option that the team will consider, with injury concerns potentially dropping him in position to join his brother, as well as Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston. It’s all about finding the right player that fits, and the Browns need a true X receiver in their room, something the room has lacked for the past two seasons. Any receiver that the Browns take can bring juice to a room that desperately needs it.
GM Andrew Berry needs to be selectively aggressive to make sure Cleveland gets what it needs in this year’s draft.
If you were predicting, do you think the Browns draft an OT then WR or vice versa in the first round?
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