Browns Eye 2026 NFL Draft With Two First-Round Picks and Plenty of Needs
At 3-9, the Cleveland Browns are officially in draft mode. After a tough loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the playoff picture is essentially out of reach, and attention in Cleveland has shifted to what’s next - namely, the 2026 NFL Draft.
The good news? The Browns are well-positioned to reload.
Thanks to a draft-day trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland owns not one, but two first-round picks. And with a handful of promising rookies already flashing potential - including defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. - the Browns have a chance to build something meaningful if they can keep stacking wins in April.
Let’s break down where things stand.
Current Draft Order: Browns in Prime Position
Here’s how the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is shaping up as of now. The top 18 picks belong to non-playoff teams, with the rest slotted based on current playoff seeding:
- Tennessee Titans (1-11)
- New Orleans Saints (2-10)
- New York Giants (2-10)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
- Washington Commanders (3-9)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via 4-8 ATL)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
- Detroit Lions (7-5)
- Houston Texans (7-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
- Buffalo Bills (8-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- New York Jets (via 8-4 IND)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via 8-4 JAX)
- Dallas Cowboys (via 8-3-1 GB)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- New England Patriots (10-2)
- Chicago Bears (9-3)
- Denver Broncos (10-2)
So, the Browns currently hold the No. 5 overall pick - and thanks to the Jaguars’ pick, they’re also sitting at No. 26. That gives them two chances in the first round to address major roster needs.
What’s at Stake for Cleveland
Let’s start with the obvious: the Browns are in a tough spot this season. But there’s a silver lining - they’ve got three picks in the top 40, and that’s the kind of draft capital that can reshape a franchise.
Their own first-rounder is currently slotted at No. 5, and that’s a premium spot. Whether they go after a quarterback, a game-changing wideout, or another defensive cornerstone, the Browns will have options.
The second first-round pick, courtesy of Jacksonville, is a little trickier. Right now, it sits at No.
- Ideally, Cleveland would love to see the Jaguars stumble down the stretch to improve the value of that pick.
Jacksonville still has two games against the 8-4 Colts and a tough matchup with the 10-2 Broncos - so there’s a sliver of hope that the pick could creep closer to the top 20, but that window is narrowing.
Cleveland’s own remaining schedule doesn’t exactly scream win streak. They’ve got games left against the 1-11 Titans, 9-3 Bears, 8-4 Bills, 6-6 Steelers, and 4-8 Bengals.
There’s a shot at picking up another win or two, especially if they can take care of business against Tennessee and if Pittsburgh continues to falter. But the Browns are likely to remain in the top five of the draft order when all is said and done.
Looking Ahead
The Browns' front office has a real opportunity this spring. Last April’s draft brought in foundational pieces, and now with two first-round picks - and three in the top 40 - they have the capital to keep building.
Whether that means targeting a future franchise quarterback, bolstering the offensive line, or adding more speed to the secondary, Cleveland has flexibility. And in a season that’s been short on wins, that flexibility might be the most valuable thing they’ve got going.
April can’t come fast enough for Browns fans.