The dust is settling on the 2025 NFL draft with undrafted free agents reportedly signing with teams throughout Saturday evening. The Cleveland Browns have a seven-player draft class this year, but also added a first-round pick in 2026 and a fifth-round pick in 2027 through trades during this weekend’s event.

While most are still buzzing (good or bad) about the selection of QB Shedeur Sanders and others are locked into scouting reports on the Browns undrafted free agents, the annual march of “way too early” NFL mock drafts begins. For years, ESPN’s biggest pageview article was always the year-ahead mock draft that came out right after a draft was completed.

Obviously some people like these.

We 100% know that there is a level of pointlessness to these, but also know that many fans really enjoy thinking ahead to what could be. It is one of the biggest reasons we love the NFL draft. Cleveland having the extra first-round pick in ‘26 will also make mock drafts, and watching the results for the Jacksonville Jaguars next year, even more exciting.

FanDuel currently has the Browns in the group with the lowest expected win totals in 2025, 5.5, while the Jaguars are sitting at 7.5. Despite a strong draft, Cleveland’s win total expectation is appropriate given the struggles last year and questions at the quarterback position.

Instead of bringing you just one first round of a 2026 Browns mock draft, we want to bring you three different options. One is the assumed one; Cleveland needs a quarterback and uses the top pick to take one. The second assumes that Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Sanders prove enough and the Browns can bypass a quarterback and just add talent.

The third is the least exciting but, perhaps, the best long-term option: With one of the picks, continue to trade down and add more Day 2 and future high draft picks. Having two, in this projection, high draft picks could allow Cleveland to add talent as well as build a war chest:

2025’s #2 pick became #5, 36 and ‘26s first rounder
2026’s first rounder becomes pick #7, 39 and ‘27 first rounder

In two drafts, one selection becomes six premium picks over three drafts with a chance to become even more in 2027.

On to the first-round-only mocks using Pro Football Network’s updated Simulator:

Browns Need a QB Mock Draft

QB Arch Manning, Texas

Despite very little information about Manning, even compared to others in this class, most assume he’ll be the top pick next year and PFN gave Cleveland that pick. Talent evaluators believe that Cade Klubnik out of Clemson and LaNorris Sellers out of South Carolina have a strong chance to take the top spot when the draft actually arrives next year.

WR Antonio Williams, Clemson

With Jacksonville still selecting in the top 10, the Browns get the top receiver off the board and finally give fans a top-flight weapon they’ve been calling for. Unfortunately, Jeremiah Smith and Ryan Williams are not eligible to be drafted this year (which could also be a reason to do the trade down with one of these picks). Williams is a talented receiver but isn’t the size, speed combo many like near the top of the draft.

Browns Don’t Need a QB Mock Draft

S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

If Cleveland doesn’t need a quarterback, drafting a safety at the top of the draft might seem like a reach, but Downs is special. Back in the day, Eric Turner was special when he was selected second overall, and Downs could add to that legacy.

WR Antonio Williams, Clemson

Same selection at the same pick just to keep things simple.

Browns Trade Down Again Mock Draft

We were offered a number of trade options when we got on the clock with the first pick, including a wild one to move down just one selection. For the sake of this mock draft, we will share what we accepted as well as what we think the actual deal would look like:

Browns move down from 1 to 7 while adding picks 39, 71, 104 and a 2027 2nd rounder
Browns would move down from 1 to 7 for 39, 71 and a 2027 1st rounder

DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fl)

One of the top defenders in the upcoming draft, at this point, Bain has 11 sacks in his first two seasons at The U and would help Cleveland fans forget about passing on DE Abdul Carter this season.

WR Antonio Williams, Clemson

Not broke, don’t fix.

What do you think of these potential 2026 mock draft scenarios? (Again, yes we know these are somewhat pointless activities but hope many enjoy the process)