CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NFL has been and always will be a copycat league. 31 other teams watch one win the Super Bowl and try to pry lessons from that team.
The Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks are no exception.
As the Browns head into the 2026 offseason, they can learn something from the Seahawks. One thing they probably already know is that defense wins championship games, and the Browns do have one of the better defenses in the NFL right now.
But in their case, the Browns’ biggest lesson should actually come from Seattle’s path to get to the Super Bowl, including its NFC Championship Game win against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks defense allowed 479 yards of total offense against the Rams and their elite offense. The reason the Seahawks won was because their offense was just as great.
Seattle’s group of skill position players is among the best in football, led by 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III.
Smith-Njigba had 153 receiving yards and a touchdown, and Walker had 111 yards of total offense (62 rushing, 49 receiving) and a rushing TD.
Cooper Kupp, although he is not what he was with the Rams, was still productive in the playoffs with 157 yards and a TD. Rashid Shaheed was a Pro Bowl returner, and 23-year-old tight end AJ Barner, an Aurora alum, had 519 yards receiving in 2025.
The point of this is that having a great defense isn’t enough to win at the highest level. You have to have equal levels of talent on both sides of the ball in case one unit is far from its best.
The Browns have mostly been a one-dimensional football team the last two seasons and lack the type of elite talent on offense that the Seahawks do.
It’s not a new lesson by any stretch. But it’s a reminder of what the Browns need to do this offseason.
Here is my latest 2026 NFL mock draft.
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, quarterback, Indiana
Height, weight: 6-5, 225 pounds.
2025 stats: 273-379 (72.0), 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, 6 interceptions.
This is as close to a lock as you can get in mid-February. The Raiders, barring the shock of all shocks, will get the quarterback who is easily the best in this class.
2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, linebacker/edge rusher, Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-4, 243 pounds.
2025 stats: 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss.
I’m going 2-for-2 in repeating the top picks from my last mock. As much as they need a quarterback, they need talent everywhere and they get the versatile Reese at No. 2.
3. Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, offensive tackle, Miami
Height, weight: 6-6, 335 pounds.
Here’s the first change from January. The Cardinals really can’t go wrong when choosing between Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano. But if new head coach Mike LaFleur is looking to set a tone with his first pick, they go for the physical Mauigoa to play opposite Paris Johnson Jr.
4. Tennessee Titans: Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami
Height, weight: 6-3, 270 pounds.
2025 stats: 54 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT.
As much as the Titans need to build an offense around Cam Ward, they still need the best talents pure and simple considering where they are in their rebuild. Bain’s stock shot up after an outstanding postseason, and the Titans could use another stud on defense to partner with Jeffery Simmons.
5. New York Giants: Spencer Fano, offensive tackle, Utah
Height, weight: 6-6, 308 pounds.
Receiver or offensive tackle could equally be in the cards for the Giants. Given Jaxson Dart’s injury issues in his rookie season, I’ll go with Fano to provide more physicality and a possible quality starter opposite left tackle Andrew Thomas.
6. Cleveland Browns: Jordyn Tyson, wide receiver, Arizona State
Height, weight: 6-2, 200 pounds.
2025 stats: 61 receptions, 711 yards (11.7 avg.), 8 TDs.
With the top two offensive tackles gone in this scenario, the Browns fulfill the wishes of Jordyn’s older brother, Cavs guard Jaylon Tyson, by bringing Jordyn to Cleveland.
The Browns lack elite skill on the outside and Tyson stacked two very good seasons of production at Arizona State. He fits the modern mold of stars like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaxon Smith-Njigba because of his ability to separate from coverage. The difference is that Tyson has a little more size, which is why he should be picked earlier than those two were in their respective drafts.
Tyson’s injury history is a concern and is why Carnell Tate from Ohio State might be the safer pick. That said, I don’t think you can go wrong choosing between the two of them.
7. Washington Commanders: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech
Height, weight: 6-3, 250 pounds.
2025 stats: 52 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 19.5 TFLs, 3 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups.
Defense was one of the big reasons the Commanders failed to build off a surprising run to the NFC Championship Game. They were one of the worst teams at pressuring quarterbacks last season, and adding the electrifying Bailey should help fix that very quickly.
8. New Orleans Saints: Carnell Tate, wide receiver, Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-3, 195 pounds.
2025 stats: 51 receptions, 875 yards (17.2 avg.), 9 TDs.
Drafting Buckeyes has worked extremely well for the Saints, especially at receiver. They go back to the well to get Tate, who has great size and ball skills to give Tyler Shough another quality receiver to work with.
9. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremiyah Love, running back, Notre Dame
Height, weight: 6-0, 214 pounds.
2025 stats: 199 carries, 1,372 yards (6.9 avg.), 18 TDs; 27 receptions, 280 yards (10.4 avg.), 3 TDs.
You could make the case for Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq at this spot. But Love is far and away the best running back in this draft and he could be the dynamic offensive piece that helps get Patrick Mahomes and company back on track.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Caleb Downs, safety, Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-0, 205 pounds.
2025 stats: 45 solo tackles, 1 sack, 5 TFLs, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups.
Given Cincinnati’s need for talent anywhere on defense and the issues they had at safety, it’d be a stunner if Downs fell past them. What Downs has working for him is his intelligence, versatility and athletic ability, which are all top notch.
11. Miami Dolphins: Peter Woods, defensive tackle, Clemson
Height, weight: 6-3, 310 pounds.
2025 stats: 30 tackles, 2 sacks, 3.5 TFLs, 1 pass breakup.
Here’s another pick I’m keeping from my previous mock. New coach Jeff Hafley has work to do to fix the Dolphins defense, and Woods is the best available defender at this point in the mock draft.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, cornerback, LSU
Height, weight: 6-0, 190 pounds.
2025 stats: 26 solo tackles, 2 INTs, 11 pass breakups.
This pick is almost guaranteed to be a defensive player considering how bad Dallas was on that side of the ball. Delane’s playmaking and ball skills should play well opposite DaRon Bland and aid a defense that was just 29th in interceptions (six).
13. Los Angeles Rams via Atlanta Falcons: Makai Lemon, wide receiver, USC
Height, weight: 5-11, 195 pounds.
2025 stats: 79 receptions, 1,156 yards (14.6 avg.), 11 TDs.
Yes, the Rams need to find a Matthew Stafford successor. However, with Stafford set to come back in 2026, the Rams might be more inclined to go all-in and try one last time to get Stafford a Super Bowl ring. They add to their receiving corps here by drafting Lemon, who could easily be a top-10 pick because of his ball skills and how well he separates.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Cashius Howell, edge rusher, Texas A&M
Height, weight: 6-2, 248 pounds.
2025 stats: 31 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 6 pass breakups.
After giving the Ravens Auburn’s Keldric Faulk a month ago, I’m staying with an SEC edge rusher for Baltimore. But I’m giving the nod to Howell ahead of Faulk because of his college production, which is an indicator of a better chance of NFL success, and his agility.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sonny Styles, linebacker, Ohio State
Height, weight: 6-5, 243 pounds.
2025 stats: 82 tackles, 1 sack, 6.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, 3 pass breakups.
After giving the Buccaneers Styles in my last mock, I’m sticking with it here for this one. Lavonte Davis just turned 36, and the Buccaneers could use a succession plan at off-ball linebacker. Styles is a tremendous athlete who can make plays against both the pass and the run.
16. New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts: Ty Simpson, quarterback, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-2, 208 pounds.
2025 stats: 305-473 (64.5%), 3,567 yards, 28 TDs, 5 INTs.
This may not be the ideal landing spot for Simpson because of the development he still needs. But the Jets simply must get a quarterback within the top 100 picks, and Simpson is clearly the best of the bunch behind Fernando Mendoza. Simpson has great potential, but his inconsistency last season at Alabama showed he needs to be insulated and developed properly to have his best chance at success.
17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami
Height, weight: 6-3, 265 pounds.
2025 stats: 63 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 17.5 TFLs, 4 forced fumbles.
This may seem like a slight reach for Mesidor, but the Lions have not been afraid to go get their own guys. Mesidor’s relentless play style combined with his fluidity make him a worthy top-20 pick despite being 25 years old.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Jermod McCoy, cornerback, Tennessee
Height, weight: 6-0, 193 pounds.
2025 stats: Did not play due to injury.
McCoy’s draft range is interesting because of missing all of 2025 due to a torn ACL. But he had four interceptions and nine pass breakups in 2024. The Vikings could take the swing here and try to add more playmaking to its group of corners.
19. Carolina Panthers: Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn
Height, weight: 6-6, 285 pounds.
2025 stats: 29 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 TFLs, 4 pass breakups.
Faulk is likely to slide down in this draft because he wasn’t very productive in college. That doesn’t mean he won’t be successful in the NFL, although it makes it harder. His elite physical tools and mentality should make him a good fit on a Carolina team that is continuing to grow.
20. Dallas via Green Bay Packers: C.J. Allen, linebacker, Georgia
Height, weight: 6-1, 235 pounds.
2025 stats: 88 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 8 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, 4 pass breakups.
There aren’t many good defensive options for the Cowboys at this stage of the draft. That said, Allen is a legitimate first-round pick because of his three-down play. He can also boost a Cowboys defense that ranked 26th in yards per carry allowed (4.7).
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: KC Concepcion, wide receiver, Texas A&M
Height, weight: 5-11, 190 pounds.
2025 stats: 61 receptions, 919 yards (15.1 avg.), 9 TDs.
The Steelers have historically done well when it comes to drafting smaller and speedier receivers. Concepcion’s drops (seven last season) are the biggest thing separating him from the top three receivers in this class. But his speed and ability to separate make him a worthy first-round pick of the Steelers to put opposite DK Metcalf.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kadyn Proctor, offensive tackle, Alabama
Height, weight: 6-7, 366 pounds.
Proctor is as physically imposing as any offensive lineman in this year’s draft. While it’s uncertain whether he will stay at tackle or move to guard, the Chargers could use help at either spot on the offensive line, making this a good landing spot for him.
23. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Sadiq, tight end, Oregon
Height, weight: 6-3, 245 pounds.
2025 stats: 51 receptions, 560 yards (11.0 avg.), 8 TDs.
Dallas Goedert just turned 31 in January, and the Eagles could use youth at tight end. Sadiq is clearly the best player at his position and likely could go higher than this. He’s the kind of tight end that can thrive on mismatches, and playing with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will only make him look better.
24. Cleveland via Jacksonville Jaguars: Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle, Utah
Height, weight: 6-6. 308 pounds.
The Browns will need to spend multiple picks in this draft, especially early, on the offensive line. They miss out on the top two tackles in Fano and Mauigoa, but they get the tackle from this top group most likely to play left tackle in the NFL.
Lomu will need to add some weight to become a much better run blocker than he is. But it’s hard to deny just how good of a pass protector he is with only six quarterback hurries allowed in 2025 according to Pro Football Focus.
I feel like in a scenario where either Mauigoa or Fano is available at No. 6, the Browns have to take one of them and then go receiver at 24. Here, both are gone and so that order flips as Lomu falls to Cleveland. They could also add to their offensive line in the second round with multiple different options including Iowa tackle Gennings Dunker or Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis.
25. Chicago Bears: Avieon Terrell, cornerback, Clemson
Height, weight: 5-11, 180 pounds.
2025 stats: 30 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 4.5 TFLs, 5 forced fumbles, 9 pass breakups.
The Bears have plenty of holes still to patch on defense. While they could take a defensive tackle like Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald to shore up their run defense, a corner with the speed and ball skills of Terrell, the younger brother of former first-round pick A.J. Terrell, could be too good to pass on.
26. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Boston, wide receiver, Washington
Height, weight: 6-4, 210 pounds.
2025 stats: 62 receptions, 881 yards (14.2 avg.), 11 touchdowns.
The promotion of Joe Brady to head coach makes the Bills an interesting team to watch this offseason. Receiver has been a need for them, and I like the fit of Boston to give Josh Allen a true jump-ball target because of his skills in contested situations.
27. San Francisco 49ers: Olaivavega Ioane, interior offensive lineman, Penn State
Height, weight: 6-4, 328 pounds.
Ioane is clearly the best of the interior offensive linemen in this year’s class. With Spencer Burford set to be a free agent this offseason, the 49ers can plug the powerful Ioane in as a starter.
28. Houston Texans: Monroe Freeling, offensive tackle, Georgia
Height, weight: 6-7, 315 pounds.
While Houston’s offensive line took a step forward, I don’t think they can stop adding to that group. Freeling has some growth to go through after just 16 starts in college. But he has the ideal frame and athletic ability to make this worth the gamble late in the first.
29. Los Angeles Rams: Colton Hood, cornerback, Tennessee
Height, weight: 6-0, 195 pounds.
2025 stats: 34 solo tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT, 8 pass breakups.
Cornerback remains a need for the Rams as their loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game showed. So that’s why I’m repeating my pick of Colton Hood to the Rams from my mock in January.
30. Denver Broncos: Blake Miller, offensive tackle, Clemson
Height, weight: 6-6, 315 pounds.
The former Strongsville Mustang showed plenty of durability at Clemson with 54 starts. He will need to refine some technique in the pros, but he has the ideal frame to play right tackle, and he could have time to develop in Denver behind Mike McGlinchey.
31. New England Patriots: Emmanuel Pregnon, interior offensive lineman, Oregon
Height, weight: 6-5, 318 pounds.
New England’s Super Bowl loss underscored how much the Patriots need to improve the offensive line in front of Drake Maye. Pregnon is a Day 1 starter at guard and he allowed just one sack in his entire career according to PFF, which could be welcome in the interior of New England’s line.
32. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Cisse, cornerback, South Carolina
Height, weight: 6-0, 190 pounds.
2025 stats: 19 solo tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 INT, 5 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble.
When you’re the reigning Super Bowl champion, you clearly don’t have many needs. But cornerback stands out as a need with three players at the position, including Josh Jobe and Tariq Woolen, due to be free agents in March. Cisse could be a good replacement for one of them because of his pure athletic tools, length and how well he defends the run for a corner.