The Browns’ 3-1 start has them sitting in first place in the AFC North, and the rookie class has been a big reason why. Cleveland’s win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night gave the team its third straight victory, and the first month of 2026 has already matched the Browns’ win total from the entire 17-game season two years ago.
On a night when the Amazon crew joked about Cleveland’s 37-year drought without an AFC North title while highlighting Pittsburgh’s 16 division championships in that same stretch, the Browns still controlled most of the game. Deshaun Watson had a gutsy outing, the defense held up despite multiple injuries, and the rookies kept showing up in important spots.
Left tackle Spencer Fano bounced back after a rough Week 3 against Carolina. He gave up five pressures and a sack against the Panthers, but against Pittsburgh he allowed three pressures and no sacks.
Pro Football Focus credited him with a 74.3 pass-blocking grade, second-best on the team behind Zion Johnson. The run game was a different story, though, and PFF gave him a team-worst 35.6 as a run blocker, which dragged his overall offensive grade down to 52.7.
That ranked 16th among the 19 Browns who played offense.
Even with the uneven performance, Fano keeps flashing. The signs are there, even if the full package hasn’t arrived yet.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion had his best game since the opener. After his quietest outing against Carolina, he was targeted eight times Thursday and caught five passes for 64 yards, with 39 of those yards coming after the catch.
He also handled two punt returns for 10 yards. Todd Monken keeps finding ways to get the former Texas A&M Aggie involved, and the results are starting to show.
PFF gave Concepcion a 63.1 grade, 11th among Browns offensive players.
Denzel Boston keeps looking like the rookie receiver who can stretch a defense. He was targeted seven times and finished with four catches for a team-high 89 yards.
His biggest moment came early in the second quarter, when he turned a catch into a 60-yard gain. Through four games, Boston and Concepcion sit 1-2 among rookie receivers in yardage, with Boston’s 284 yards nearly doubling Concepcion’s 144.
Boston earned a 71.7 overall grade from PFF, third-best on the offense.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren’s role keeps growing, and Thursday brought his first start. Cleveland opened with three safeties, and EMW logged 36 snaps, which was only eight shy of his season total entering the game.
He finished with four combined tackles and two pass breakups. Pittsburgh targeted him twice, and he allowed one catch for 21 yards and a touchdown to Darnell Washington.
Even so, PFF gave him a 70.4 grade, fifth among the 18 Browns defenders who played. His workload is clearly expanding.
Right guard Austin Barber also steadied himself after a bumpy few weeks. After a strong Week 1 and struggles in Weeks 2 and 3, he allowed just one pressure against a strong Steelers front.
His 64.6 overall grade ranked ninth on the team. That came with the added challenge of Cleveland being without veteran center Elgton Jenkins, who missed the game after suffering a concussion against Carolina.
Luke Wypler filled in, and the line did enough to help the Browns get the win.
Tight end Carsen Ryan had the quietest night of the rookies. He played one offensive snap, and it did not grade well, with PFF giving him a 41.1 on offense, second-to-last on the team.
He still handled his usual special teams work and posted a 60.7 grade there. He didn’t record any official stats.
Ryan remains the only Day 3 rookie seeing any action. Fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford was active for the first time but did not play, Justin Jefferson was a healthy scratch, Taylen Green stayed in his role as the emergency third quarterback, and Joe Royer remains on the non-football injury list.
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Browns Draft Class Is Creating A Debate Fans Didnt Expect
The Browns entered this draft with a clear idea of what they wanted, even after dealing away their sixth overall pick to Kansas City. Through the first four games, the class has already given Cleveland some early return, with Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren all finding ways to contribute right away. Boston has stood out in particular, quickly becoming a key target for Deshaun Watson and giving the offense a young playmaker to lean on.
What has made the conversation more interesting is how uneven the rest of the class has looked by comparison. Several picks have yet to appear in regular-season action, and the Browns are also dealing with at least one player who is not currently with the team because of off-field issues. For a team that has spent years trying to nail the draft, the debate now is not just about whether Cleveland found talent, but how much of this class is actually ready to help right now. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Have 4 Week 4 Games That Suddenly Matter
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So while the Browns keep an eye on the division race, there are four games in particular that could help shape both the path ahead and the value of that future draft asset. A few of those matchups can tilt the standings in ways that affect future opponents, and the Rams record is now part of the conversation too, which gives this otherwise early-season slate a very Browns-specific twist. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Verse Is Facing An Early Browns Problem He Has To Fix
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Verses edge has never been in doubt, and his intensity has been part of what made him such an intriguing addition in the first place. But the emotional weight of the move and the expectations that came with it appear to be part of the challenge now, as Cleveland waits to see whether his production starts matching the reputation that followed him in. [Read more 🡒]