The early buzz around Cleveland’s 2026 NFL Draft haul hasn’t cooled off, and the first four games have only given the Browns more reason to feel good about what they did.
The biggest swing came right at the top. Cleveland entered the draft with picks No. 6 and No. 24 in the first round, then shipped No. 6 to the Kansas City Chiefs. Dropping three spots, adding an extra third and fifth, and still landing the player they were likely targeting anyway was the kind of move that can reshape a class before it even starts.
That decision has paid off immediately with Spencer Fano. The rookie tackle has stepped into a rebuilt offensive line and given the Browns exactly what they wanted: steadiness. Through four games, he has allowed just one sack and sits 29th among 70 tackles, according to PFF.
The other first-rounder, KC Concepcion, drew mixed reactions when Cleveland took him. A lot of the skepticism centered on concerns about his pass-catching ability, which made the pick a talking point from the moment it was made.
If there’s been one rookie who has quickly changed the conversation, though, it’s Denzel Boston. Taken early in the second round, he has looked like the kind of pick teams dream about when they talk about value.
Boston has 13 catches for 284 yards and two touchdowns, and he’s averaging more than 20 yards per reception. He has also become a clear target for Deshaun Watson, to the point where some already view him as the Browns WR1.
Cleveland’s second round got even better after the team traded back into it for Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He hasn’t piled up eye-popping numbers, but the Browns clearly see more than the box score. Through four games, he has played behind Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman, yet his instincts, playmaking and athleticism have flashed enough to make the “steal of the draft” label stick.
The offensive line value kept rolling in the third round with Barber, a 6'7" 300lb tackle who has already moved into a starting role at guard. He has been sturdy so far, ranking 22nd among 70 guards in the NFL by PFF, and he hasn’t allowed a sack across 244 snaps.
Cleveland didn’t make a fourth-round pick, but it jumped back in during the fifth to take Brailsford, the team’s third lineman of the draft. The Alabama product has not yet appeared in a regular-season game.
The Browns also used fifth-rounder Jefferson, a linebacker with a name that might make people think of a receiver first. He, too, has yet to see regular-season action and is currently a depth piece in a linebacker room that already has strength in numbers.
Tight end Royer has had a rougher path. After Cleveland drafted him, he has dealt with off-field issues and is not currently with the team. He is listed as OUT at the fourth-string tight end spot.
With their first pick in the sixth round, the Browns added their third quarterback in two years, Green, a raw but highly athletic prospect. He hasn’t played yet, but Todd Monken has talked about potentially keeping him as QB2 so the team can use him on designed runs. At 6'6", Green also brings a 4.36 40-yard dash to the table.
Cleveland finished the night by taking another tight end in Ryan, who is currently listed as the Browns’ third-string TE and has not appeared in his first NFL game yet.
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Spencer Fano Is Giving Browns Fans Real Hope Up Front
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For Cleveland, that matters because the left tackle spot has been a source of constant concern, and Fano arrived with questions about both his arm length and how much college experience he had at that position. Instead, he has played like a player who belongs, and the Browns now have reason to believe they may have found a foundational piece on the offensive line sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]