The Browns entered the 2026 draft cycle with a class plenty of people around the league dismissed as thin. Cleveland, though, may have come out of it with one of the best hauls in the entire draft.
On paper, the Browns landed at least three Day 1 starters and several more rookies who look ready to contribute right away. That still doesn’t mean every newcomer is headed for a huge workload in the first year of the Todd Monken era.
Some of these players are walking into starting jobs. Others are going to earn their snaps the hard way.
Spencer Fano is the cleanest example of the former. He’s listed as the left tackle and looks like the unquestioned starter there after holding his own against Jared Verse, one of the NFL’s top pass rushers.
Fano barely saw the field in the preseason, but what he did show made him look like a natural blindside protector. The easy-going, playful personality doesn’t change the fact that he plays like an enforcer, and he’s already the best option Cleveland has at the spot.
KC Concepcion is in the same bucket. The Zay Flowers comparisons make sense because the Browns appear ready to use him all over the offense.
He should be a big-play target, get touches on jet sweeps and end-arounds, and also handle a major special teams load. His explosiveness makes him the favorite to return punts, and there’s a real chance he leads the team in all-purpose touches as a rookie.
Denzel Boston gives Cleveland another rookie receiver who should be on the field from the jump. He was one of the stars of training camp, and even though he didn’t show much in preseason games, the Browns are expecting him to work the perimeter as a physical, reliable target. With his size, strength, and hands, Boston should be part of every wide receiver package.
The offensive line could end up getting even deeper help from Austin Barber. Monken said Barber played himself into starting consideration after the preseason finale, and while he’s officially listed as a tackle, he may fit better inside.
Even if Teven Jenkins opens Week 1 at right guard, Barber looks like a player who could push for that job quickly. Cleveland may have found at least two rookie starters on the line, and Barber will get plenty of opportunities to prove it.
Parker Brailsford sits a tier below that group, but he’s still in line to matter. He turned heads in OTAs and rookie minicamp before a wrist injury slowed him down in camp.
Now healthy, he’s playing catch-up, but the Browns will likely want to get a look at him at some point. He’s undersized, yet familiar with wide-zone concepts from Alabama, and with Elgton Jenkins able to play just about anywhere up front, Brailsford should have a path to snaps if injuries start stacking up.
The Browns also spent real draft capital to move up and grab Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round, and that kind of investment usually comes with a plan to get the rookie involved. He’s still raw, but his closing speed and ability to find the football should put him on the field early. Ronnie Hickman and Grant Delpit are a strong safety duo, but defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg should be able to work McNeil-Warren into the mix at safety or nickel, with his role likely growing as the season goes on.
Justin Jefferson’s path looks more limited for now. He was quiet early in camp, but he’s been trending up lately, and his preseason finale against the New England Patriots was his best showing yet: a sack, an interception, and 10 total tackles.
Even so, linebacker is not a spot where the Browns need much help. Jefferson should get a few defensive snaps here and there, but he’s more likely to make his mark on special teams unless injuries change the picture.
Joe Royer remains something of a mystery. There’s still no word on the circumstances behind his absence or whether he’ll report back this season, and even if he does, he’s already missed enough time that a debut could be a while away. The Browns liked his pass-catching ability in the spring, and although Harold Fannin Jr. already fills that role, Cleveland would probably carve out snaps for Royer if he becomes available.
Taylen Green brings a different kind of intrigue. He made the most of his lone preseason audition, flashing speed, size, and creativity while ripping off big gains on the ground against the Patriots.
The Browns still want him to develop as a quarterback, but Monken could absolutely build gadget packages around him. There’s even a chance he finds the end zone a couple of times this season.
Carsen Ryan rounds out the group as a depth tight end who fought his way onto the 53-man roster with a strong camp. The Browns moved him around the formation, and while he had some miscues with tipped passes, he kept showing progress.
Ryan is the type of versatile, hard-working player coaches trust, and he’ll probably spend his early snaps as an extra blocker before earning more chances as a receiver. By the end of the season, he could be the team’s TE2.
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