ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Peter Schrager released his final first-round mock draft about 36 hours away from when the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock.
In a project that he calls a total “labor of love,” Schrager makes his picks to try to be “as accurate as possible” based on the information that he has received from teams and what he knows about the prospects. Here is what he has for the Cleveland Browns.
Pick 6: Cleveland Browns Select Spencer Fanu, OT, Utah
Schrager notes in here that Cleveland is definitely trying to trade out of this pick. The best way that they will be able to do that is if one of the elite pass rushers slides like Arvell Reese or David Bailey. If one of those guys somehow finds his way to six, that phone will be ringing off the hook.
Honestly, Schrager’s commentary on the pick is not very inspiring. Basically says that if Cleveland gets stuck at six, this pick makes the most logical sense for them to fill one of their biggest needs, tackle. I, personally, disagree with this and think that if they do get stuck there, they need to get either a sure-fire left tackle, of which there are none, or a splash, big-play wide receiver.
Nonetheless, Schrager gets it going for Cleveland with Spencer Lomu, who certainly would not be a bad player; he just wouldn’t be the most exciting pick.
Pick 24: Cleveland Browns Select Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
Schrager zigs while everyone zags! Denzel Boston is not a commonly talked about name for the Browns at pick 24, but it is certainly not unrealistic. This pick would check the box for getting a wide receiver for an offense that sorely needs one, but would it fix the need?
Boston is a very unique player and one who, if he reaches his potential, could be a star. He stands at 6’4″ and is a huge body player. What he lacks in lateral and straight line quickness, he makes up for with his size and his ability to catch the football in traffic. He is a very solid player, and taking him at pick 24 is a low-risk selection and one that, in Schrager’s opinion, helps solve Cleveland’s wide receiver issues.
My 2026 final mock draft is now up.
Have at it.
Let’s go!@espn@ESPNNFL@GetUpESPNhttps://t.co/Kd8wfFf0YA
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 22, 2026
From a Browns perspective, this is a very uninspiring first round that Schrager put together. If they stay put at both picks and this is their haul, this is leaning towards a massive failure of a draft to capitalize on the value of their picks.
General manager Andrew Berry talks at length about maximizing the value of each of their assets, whether it be a pick or trade. In this scenario, the Browns settle not once, but twice. These are not bad players, but they are not the maximum value.
Cleveland doesn’t capitalize on a masterclass trade in the 2025 draft and come out scratching their heads because the same problems that existed on April 23rd will still exist on April 24th.
Peter Schrager’s Final First Round Mock Draft Grade: C-
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns NFL Draft: Grading ESPN’s Peter Schrager’s final mock draft