As the NFL Draft approaches, the Cleveland Browns face strategic decisions with nine picks, including two in the first round, potentially reshaping their roster.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are entering a pivotal stretch as the NFL Draft gets underway.
3News has everything you need to know ahead of the draft, including Cleveland’s picks, potential targets and what analysts are projecting in early mock drafts.
It is expected that the Browns will be looking to add a wide receiver and an offensive tackle to their roster with their top picks.
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WHEN AND WHERE IS THE 2026 NFL DRAFT?
This year’s draft will take place Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25, in Pittsburgh near Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore.
The proximity is expected to bring a strong turnout from Northeast Ohio, with many Browns fans likely making the roughly two-hour drive. Organizers are anticipating record-breaking attendance.
NFL DRAFT SCHEDULE
Round 1: Thursday, April 23, at 8 p.m.Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 24, at 7 p.m.Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 25, at noon
HOW MANY PICKS DO THE BROWNS HAVE?
Cleveland enters the draft with nine total picks, including two selections in the first round. That gives the Browns flexibility and could make them one of the more active teams early in the draft.
Full list of draft picks
Round 1 – No. 6 overallRound 1 – No. 24 overall (from Jacksonville)Round 2 – No. 39 overallRound 3 – No. 70 overallRound 4 – No. 107 overallRound 5 – No. 146 overallRound 5 – No. 149 overall (from Cincinnati)Round 6 – No. 206 overall (from Chicago)Round 7 – No. 248 overall (from Seattle)
COULD THE BROWNS MAKE A TRADE?
There have been reports that Cleveland could explore trading its No. 6 overall pick, depending on how the board falls.
Previously, during a press conference on April 16, Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry addressed the likelihood of trading and moving down in the first round of the NFL Draft.
“I’d go back to what I’ve said in the past, our mindset going into the draft, with our most valuable asset, isn’t about, ‘hey, just trade it away.’ It’s maximizing the asset,” said Berry. “And that can, at different times, take different forms. It can be selecting a player, it could be trading it for a veteran, it could be trading down, it could be trading up. We will continue to work through all those possibilities up until, really, we get on the clock on Thursday night.”
NFL MOCK DRAFTS FROM NFL EXPERTS & ANALYSTS
Below are the players that NFL experts and analysts expect the Browns to pick during Round 1.
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com analystPick 6 | Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio StateAnalysis: Opting for a pass catcher in this draft slot over an offensive tackle is risky, but Tate displays the route-running skills and playmaking ability to thrive as a WR1. With Shedeur Sanders and/or Deshaun Watson in need of a reliable receiver on the perimeter, the Ohio State standout could be too good to pass up.Zac Jackson, Browns and NFL writer for The AthleticPick 13 | (from Rams, via Falcons): Kadyn Proctor, OT, AlabamaAnalysis: The Browns have some obvious needs on offense, but in a wide receiver class viewed as more deep than top-heavy, they passed on the chance to take Tate. Instead, Cleveland traded down and selected Proctor, who has left tackle ability but the athleticism and power to play inside while further adjusting to the NFL game. The Browns chose to continue their offensive line rebuild by accepting pick Nos. 13 and 61 and a 2027 fifth-rounder to make the deal.Browns general manager Andrew Berry has a track record of acquiring future fifth-round picks to use in trades, so the deal fit real-life parameters. If Proctor can manage his weight and become more technically sound, he can become a Pro Bowl lineman.Mel Kiper Jr., ESPNPick 12 (via projected trade with DAL): Kadyn Proctor, OT, AlabamaAnalysis: Cleveland is on the clock with the first of three Day 1 picks after the projected trade down. The two positions often associated with the Browns’ early picks are wide receiver and offensive tackle. With the way the board fell, that probably means Proctor, Utah lineman Spencer Fano, USC receiver Makai Lemon or Indiana receiver Omar Cooper Jr. would be in the mix. Fano’s future might be at guard, and the receiver class has more value in the early 20s, where the Browns pick two more times. So I’m going with Proctor.He has been buzzy this month, and while his tape is a little inconsistent, the traits are all there. Proctor could lock down the left tackle spot for an offensive line undergoing big alterations.Pick 20 (via projected trade with DAL/GB): Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonAnalysis: Whether it’s two or three first-rounders for the Browns, they have to leave Day 1 with a new receiver. Their receivers caught four touchdowns all season in 2025. But put Boston opposite Jerry Jeudy and things are looking up. After all, Boston had 11 touchdowns himself last season. His dependable hands and ability to box out defenders with his strength make the quarterback’s job a lot easier.Pick 24: Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeAnalysis: This could be a good draft day for Cleveland. Proctor and Boston would tick the two biggest need boxes, and finding McCoy — one of the top cornerback prospects in the class — at No. 24 would be the cherry on top. Of course, McCoy hasn’t played a football game since 2024; he tore his ACL in January 2025 and sat out all of last season. But the tape is really good, and his ball skills (six interceptions in two seasons at Oregon State and Tennessee) are tremendous. Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell and McCoy would form a solid trio at the position.Peter Schrager, ESPNPick 6: Spencer Fano, OT, UtahAnalysis: The Browns are certainly in the trade-back conversation as they look to add more draft capital. If they stay home at No. 6, there’s some love for Fano, who can be a versatile blocker up and down Cleveland’s revamped O-line. Fano has allowed just one sack in the past two years, he was a team captain at Utah, and he can be a culture-setter for that unit. But again, keep an eye on the Browns if one of those top edge rushers starts to slide; they could be fielding trade calls.Pick 24: Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonAnalysis: We’ve talked about the Browns addressing offensive line and wide receiver in Round 1. They got the tackle at No. 6. Now they would have the choice between Boston and Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion. I think Cleveland would prefer the big-bodied frame of Boston; he can be a key red zone target for an offense that mustered just four TD catches from its receiver room last season.Chad Reuter, NFL.com Draft Analyst Pick 6: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Analysis: Freeling’s athleticism, length and experience starting at both tackle spots push him into the top 10 overall selections. He also played through an ankle injury last season, and that kind of durability would be especially attractive to the Browns, whose pass protection has been wrecked by health issues over the past few years.Pick 20 (via projected trade with Cowboys, originally owned by Packers): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona StateAnalysis: The Browns swap picks in the third and fifth rounds with Dallas to move up from No. 24 so they can grab Tyson. Cleveland needs a big-time playmaker to take the pressure off Jerry Jeudy and give whoever ends up at quarterback another dynamic target. Kyle Dvorchak, NBC SportsPick 12 (via projected trade with Dallas): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Analysis: The Browns would very much prefer there to be a franchise left tackle here, but beggars can’t be choosers. Fano is an elite right tackle prospect who profiles as a long-term starter, even if this pick still leaves Cleveland with an outstanding question mark on the other side of the line.Pick 24: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, SAF, ToledoAnalysis: The Browns have openings at nearly every spot on the roster, save for their front-seven. Bypassing DT and EDGE, McNeil-Warren is the highest-ranked player on Grinding the Mocks, a mock draft aggregator that predicts actual draft capital quite well. EMW is a downhill thumper who wreaks havoc in the run game but can also affect the pass. He totaled five interceptions and eight forced fumbles in his three years as a starter at Toledo.Dane Brugler, The AthleticPick 12 (via projected trade with Dallas): Spencer Fano, OT, UtahAnalysis: Mendoza going No. 1 and the Browns looking to trade back — those are about the only two things we for sure know will be happening early in Round 1. Fano will be high on the Browns’ wish list if they stick and pick at No. 6, and he’s a no-brainer at No. 12 in this trade-back scenario.Pick 20 (via projected trade with Dallas): KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&MAnalysis: Draft the offensive lineman first, then the receiver? Or vice versa? The answer for Cleveland is debatable, but it works out well in this scenario. After selecting Fano earlier, adding Concepcion’s dynamic inside-outside versatility is a good fit here.Pick 24: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, ToledoAnalysis: The Toledo coaches brought McNeil-Warren from Florida to Ohio, and the Browns would love to keep him in the state. He is a tall, rangy safety with the athleticism and ball skills that will translate well to an NFL secondary.