It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Shedeur Sanders as the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.

He has had both rookie struggles and impressive moments. One good sign is that you can see he has been working on some of the knocks he had coming out of college. Sanders is doing a better job, not drifting back into the pocket as much, and as the season has progressed, he has also worked on getting the ball out of his hands quicker.

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The supporting cast around Sanders has been terrible; from the offensive line to the pass catchers (outside of Harold Fannin), and even the coaching staff/scheme. One could argue that, with a better supporting cast and coach, Sanders could be at least a serviceable starter. So, for this mock draft, we will assume the team plans to start Sanders in 2026 and build around him to set him up for success.

Round 1, Pick 3: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

The Browns are in desperate need of playmakers who can attack at all three levels of the field, such as Ohio State’s Carnell Tate. He does the two biggest things a wide receiver must do very well: he’s a natural separator, and he doesn’t drop the ball; he has zero drops this season. He’s a great route runner and has enough speed to stretch the field and create explosive plays.

Round 1, Pick 27: Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah

The Browns have struggled to find an answer at left tackle since Joe Thomas left, but Caleb Lomu has the tools and talent to be that answer. He is a good athlete who doesn’t panic if initially beaten and does a good job of recovering and reengaging the defender. Lomu is a fluid mover who is a good fit for a zone run scheme. If he can add some more power at the next level, he can be a franchise left tackle for a long time.

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Round 2, Pick 35: Gennings Dunker, OL, Iowa

Gennings Dunker played right tackle for Iowa, but he likely will move inside to play guard at the next level. He is a mean physical player who loves to maul defenders in the run game. There’s some Wyatt Teller in his game, and he could be the perfect replacement for Teller at the right guard position. Dunker is a solid pass protector as well, but he is an elite run-blocking prospect.

Round 3, Pick 67: Jack Endries, TE, Texas

Cleveland could move on from David Njoku after this season, but either way, adding another playmaker at tight end is a great idea. Jack Endries gives you alignment versatility, who can threaten defenses vertically down the seam. He has strong and reliable hands with zero drops this season. Endries is a good blocker, but could use a little bit more strength to take it to the next level.

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Round 4, Pick 103: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

Jacob Rodriguez doesn’t have the typical size or athletic ability of an NFL linebacker, but he is so instinctual and high-motor that he is worth an early-day-three flyer. He is a tackling machine who excels at forcing turnovers and is praised for his leadership.

Round 5, Pick 141: Eric Rivers, WR, Georgia Tech

Cleveland needs to be able to stretch the field vertically more in 2026, and Eric Rivers has the speed and explosiveness off the line of scrimmage to do that for him. He does a great job tracking the ball and adjusting to it in the air to come down with it. Rivers is smaller, but he does a decent job of being physical in contested catch opportunities.

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Round 5, Pick 142: Adon Shuler, S, Notre Dame

Adon Shuler is a versatile safety who could be quality depth at the next level. This season for the Fighting Irish, he has played 343 snaps as a deep cover safety and 229 in the box. He’s a physical safety and excels as a downhill run defender, and is known as a special teams ace, and everyone knows the Browns could use more help on special teams.

This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Building around Shedeur Sanders in 2026