Spencer Fano’s rookie season has come with the kind of lessons that only the NFL can deliver, and Browns head coach Todd Monken says the young tackle is handling them the right way.
Cleveland’s offensive line has been under the microscope lately, especially after recent struggles that have put the spotlight on veteran Tytus Howard. That has made it easy to overlook rookies Austin Barber and Fano, even though both have shown promise.
Still, the results around them tell the bigger story: Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have been sacked 38 times in nine games, a number that works out to more than four sacks per contest. If the Browns want to be in real contention by the time the playoffs arrive, that front has to tighten up.
Monken sees the rough patches as part of the education for Fano, the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He said the rookie’s makeup has helped him absorb the challenge of switching from the right side, where he played in college, to left tackle in the pros.
“It’s so cool for him because of the way he’s wired, how he works at it - highly intelligent, very prideful, but it’s not easy being indoctrinated into playing left tackle as a rookie,” he said. “And every week it feels like there is no off week, right? There isn’t an off week of these guys that are paid to get to the quarterback.
“And it really stresses your mental stamina, play after play, right? There is no ‘oh, I get a little bit of a smoke break here’.
Oh, no, right. You don’t get that.”
The numbers back up the progress. Fano is 17th out of 71 in overall Pro Football Focus grade, which puts him in the company of some of the league’s better tackles. His pass-rush grade still leaves room for growth, as he sits 39th out of 71 there, but his 22nd-place rushing ranking helps lift his overall standing.
Monken also pointed to the weekly challenge of facing different kinds of edge rushers, which can turn every snap into a new test. One play might bring a veteran, and the next could feature a quick, younger threat coming off the edge.
“You know, and then they roll (Jadeveon) Clowney in there, and they roll other guys that are young and trying to get the quarterback,” Monken continued. “Like, that’s what’s the coolest thing about being a part of professional sports and being in professional football. Everybody’s got really good players, and it really challenges you.
“And I like his mental makeup. I like the way he’s wired. He’s only going to continue to get better.”
Fano’s next chance to keep building comes Sunday, Nov. 15, when the Browns host the Houston Texans at Huntington Bank Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. EST.
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