Cleveland Browns 2026 NFL Draft Grades

Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry did an outstanding job manipulating the board throughout the draft while still consistently targeting premium positions and roster needs. The Cleveland Browns came away with a 2026 NFL draft class built around offensive explosiveness, trench depth, and secondary versatility, while also balancing immediate contributors with developmental upside. The Browns were aggressive when value presented itself and largely stayed disciplined within their approach, resulting in one a strong class and one of my best values in the draft.

Cleveland Browns: 2026 NFL Draft Class Overview

Draft Pick Selections

Round 1 | Pick 9 Overall

Spencer Fano | Offensive Tackle | Utah

Spencer Fano gives Cleveland a different type of offensive tackle than the power-based maulers already present along the line. He’s an outstanding movement-based blocker with excellent range in the run game and the athleticism to consistently operate in space. His likely transition back to left tackle — a position he played earlier in his college career — giving the Browns flexibility while also adding another high-level run-game contributor to the offense.

Round 1 | Pick 24 Overall

KC Concepcion | Wide Receiver | Texas A&M

One of the more dynamic offensive weapons in the class, KC Concepcion brings elite suddenness, separation ability, and alignment versatility. He gives Cleveland a player capable of operating outside, in the slot, in gadget packages, and on special teams. The drop issues remain the primary concern. However, if his hands become more consistent, there is legitimate upside for him to develop into a highly productive offensive centerpiece with similarities stylistically to a larger version of Zay Flowers in Todd Monken’s system.

Round 2 | Pick 39 Overall

Denzel Boston | Wide Receiver | Washington

Denzel Boston is a strong-handed, ball-dominant receiver who consistently wins in contested situations while also bringing far more fluidity as a mover than expected for his size profile. He is capable of winning at all three levels of the field and adds run-after-catch value once the ball is in his hands. His skill set complements KC Concepcion extremely well, giving Cleveland a balanced blend of explosiveness and physicality within the receiver room.

Round 2 | Pick 58 Overall

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | Safety | Toledo

One of the best value selections in the entire draft, and arguably one of the smartest trade-ups made by any team.

Emmanuel McNeil-Warren carried a clear early second-round grade for me and somehow slid into the late second, making this an outstanding value opportunity for Cleveland. He is an instinctive, versatile safety capable of operating in split-safety structures, matching up with tight ends, and contributing across multiple coverage responsibilities where his coverage was very reliable, but the ball skills weren’t high end.

Round 3 | Pick 86 Overall

Austin Barber | Offensive Tackle | Florida

Barber projects well as a developmental swing tackle, though this felt slightly earlier than expected relative to where I would have taken him. While not an egregious reach, he carried an early Day 3 evaluation for me. Still, his versatility and developmental traits provide Cleveland with another long-term depth piece along the offensive line.

Round 5 | Pick 146 Overall

Parker Brailsford | Center | Alabama

This selection felt reasonable from a draft-position standpoint, though the stylistic fit raises some questions. Brailsford is more of a finesse-oriented interior offensive lineman whose movement skills and athletic profile stand out more than his raw power. There are still concerns regarding whether his play strength and overall profile translate to long-term starting ability within Cleveland’s existing offensive line.

Round 5 | Pick 149 Overall

Justin Jefferson | Off-Ball Linebacker | Alabama

Jefferson gives Cleveland quality depth at linebacker while also bringing immediate special teams value. With uncertainty surrounding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s long-term outlook, adding another athletic second-level defender made sense from a roster management standpoint. He projects initially as a rotational linebacker and core special teamer with enough athletic upside to potentially carve out a larger role over time.

Round 5 | Pick 170 Overall

Joe Royer | Tight End | Cincinnati

Royer provides solid depth at tight end following the loss of David Njoku and brings a dependable all-around skill set to the position. While he may never develop into a featured offensive weapon, he offers enough versatility as both a blocker and underneath receiving option to carve out a meaningful rotational role within the offense.

Round 6 | Pick 182 Overall

Taylen Green | Quarterback | Arkansas

Green is one of the more intriguing developmental quarterback swings in the class due to his combination of athleticism and raw physical upside. The mechanical inconsistencies remain significant and will require extensive refinement, but the foundational tools are clearly present. He projects as a long-term developmental option who ideally sits for a year or two before competing for a meaningful role, with the upside outcome being far more enticing than the realistic probability.

Round 7 | Pick 248 Overall

Carsen Ryan | Tight End | Cincinnati

Like Royer Ryan adds additional depth and competition to Cleveland’s tight end room following the departure of Njoku. At this point in the draft, adding developmental depth with role flexibility is a worthy route to take.

Best Value Pick — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | S | Toledo

An absolute steal for Cleveland in the late second round. McNeil-Warren possessed early second-round talent and versatility, making his slide one of the more surprising developments of Day 2. His ability to contribute in split-safety looks, cover tight ends, and play multiple roles in the secondary gives Cleveland an immediate-impact defender at tremendous value.

Biggest Question Mark — Austin Barber | OT | Florida

The concern with Barber revolves more around draft positioning than the player himself. He has developmental traits and long-term utility as a swing tackle, but this felt slightly earlier than necessary relative to where I saw his value. While the reach was not dramatic, it still stands out compared to the otherwise strong value Cleveland found throughout the class.

Final Thoughts

The Cleveland Browns put together one of the more strategically sound classes in the 2026 NFL draft by consistently attacking premium positions while maneuvering the board effectively. The additions of Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston significantly improve the offensive ceiling, while Emmanuel McNeil-Warren could end up being one of the steals of the entire draft. There are a few schematic and value-related questions deeper into the class, but overall Andrew Berry successfully blended roster need, positional value, and long-term upside into a highly competitive draft haul.

Final Draft Grade: B+