The Cleveland Brownsclosed the book on the Kevin Stefanski era after six seasons. They hired veteran offensive coordinator Todd Monken to replace him and have spent the 2026 NFL offseason rebuilding the offense in Monken’s image.
Thus far, Cleveland’s main focus has been on improving the offensive line. They signed two veterans in free agency – left guard Zion Johnson and center Elgton Jenkins – and also acquired and extended the versatile Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans.
The Browns haven’t made as many moves on the defensive side of the ball after sporting the fourth-best defense in terms of EPA per play, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That said, adding Quincy Williams at linebacker should further bolster the team’s already strong stop unit and provide the entire squad with an identity.
Cleveland still has plenty of holes to fill after a 5-12 season. General manager Andrew Berry may not be able to plug all during the 2026 NFL Draft, but having two first-round selections should help him in his quest to turn the Browns back into a playoff contender.
Here’s everything to know about the Browns’ picks, needs and outlook for the 2026 NFL Draft:
Browns 2026 NFL Draft picks
The Browns have nine picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s the complete list:
- Round 1, Pick 6
- Round 1, Pick 24 (from Jaguars)
- Round 2, Pick 39
- Round 3, Pick 70
- Round 4, Pick 107
- Round 5, Pick 146
- Round 5, Pick 149 (from Bengals)
- Round 6, Pick 206 (from Bears)
- Round 7, Pick 248 (from Seahawks)
The Browns acquired their additional first-round pick (24th overall) from the Jaguars as part of Jacksonville’s 2025 draft day trade to get hybrid player Travis Hunter.
Browns NFL draft grades
This section will be updated after the Browns make their first selection.
Browns 2026 NFL Draft needs
Offensive tackle
The Browns revamped their offensive line during the offseason, but they still need to add a left tackle to bookend trade acquisition Tytus Howard and play next to Zion Johnson. Cleveland should be in range for plenty of talented blockers with its two, first-round selections, with Spencer Fano, Francis Mauigoa, Monroe Freeling and Kadyn Proctor being the players to watch at the position.
Wide receiver
No Browns wide receiver posted more than Jerry Jeudy‘s 602 receiving yards last season. Cleveland will need to add another starting-caliber wide-out to pair with Jeudy and give its quarterback – whether that’s Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson or someone else – a chance to find success in 2026. Targeting a first-round talent like Carnell Tate could go a long way toward improving its thin receiver room.
Quarterback
Will the Browns select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft? That much is unclear, but the team doesn’t have a clear-cut answer at the position between Watson, Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Cleveland may be content to wait to select another quarterback until the 2027 NFL Draft, but it would hardly surprise anyone if the Browns took a mid-round shot on someone like Carson Beck or Drew Allar given their desperate need for a signal-caller.
Browns 2026 NFL mock draft
Here’s what the Browns could do come draft night, per Ayrton Ostly’s seven-round mock draft:
- Round 1, Pick 6: OT Spencer Fano, Utah
- With Tate off the board, Cleveland takes the best prospect on the offensive line in this class. Fano could end up at tackle, guard or even center at the NFL level. Regardless, the Browns could use help at any of those spots. His elite athleticism and above-average will ensure he sticks in the NFL. Cleveland could keep him at right tackle as he was in Utah and bump Tytus Howard inside to guard.
- Round 1, Pick 24: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
- Cleveland gets a dynamic wide receiver with their second first-round pick in Concepcion. The Texas A&M product is the best open-field threat among these top receiving talents and could provide a skillset the Browns don’t have on the roster. He’d offer immediate value as a returner and give whoever starts at quarterback another solid pass-catcher after Jerry Jeudy and Harold Fannin Jr.
- Round 2, Pick 39: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana
- Cleveland had one of the best defenses in the league in 2025 but have a new defensive coordinator in the building following Jim Schwartz’s departure. Denzel Ward is reliable on the outside and the Browns could use an upgrade at nickel. Ponds is undersized but an outstanding athlete with a track record of ball production and limiting opposing wideouts.
- Round 3, Pick 70: DT Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State
- Mason Graham had some solid flashes as a rookie but the Browns could use more bulk up front. Jackson uses his massive wingspan at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds to disrupt the running game with the strength to make arm tackles reliably.
- Round 4, Pick 107: QB Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
- Round 5, Pick 146: C Logan Jones, Iowa
- Round 5, Pick 149: TE Nate Boerkircher, Iowa
- Round 6, Pick 206: WR Cyrus Allen, Cincinnati
- Round 7, Pick 248: CB Ceyair Wright, Nebraska
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cleveland Browns NFL draft picks 2026: Round-by-round selections