Cleveland goes heavy on offense in this two-round mock draft from The Athletic.
The Cleveland Browns completed one important task this week with the hiring of Todd Monken as head coach.
Monken has been busy building his staff by leaning into his connections with the Baltimore Ravens, reportedly hiring Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator and George Warhop as offensive line coach, and hoping to schedule an interview with Danny Breyer to take over as pass game coordinator.
With the head coach search completed, general manager Andrew Berry can now focus on fixing the roster, primarily the offensive side of the ball. It is widely expected that Berry will use many of the team’s 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft to bring in some new faces along the offensive line and at wide receiver. Unfortunately, the quarterback class is not a deep one, so that may need to be put on hold for another year.
Teams still need to get through the NFL Scouting Combine and free agency before they finalize their draft boards, but mock draft season is upon us, and Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman at The Athletic took a shot at helping out Cleveland’s offense in their latest two-round mock draft.
With Cleveland’s first selection, No. 6 overall, the offensive line gets a boost with the selection of Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano:
The Browns are starting over at head coach (again), and this feels like another situation that will not be very friendly toward a young QB, be it Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or a new face. Cleveland still needs so much help offensively that it’d be smart to spend these precious assets on its core.
Fano is my favorite offensive lineman in the draft. He’s an outstanding athlete, with potential as a right or left tackle.
Not really sure why they needed to bring the head coach into it, but the 6-foot-6 and 308-pound Fano fills a need no matter who is standing on the sidelines. While he may be a step behind Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, there is much to like about Fano in the right system, according to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism. He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush. He needs to stay square longer to prevent inside moves and refine his punch approach/timing. His athletic profile is designed for move-based blocking schemes where he can pull, reach and climb while beating opponents to the spot with quickness/feel for hitting landmarks on time. He gives good effort as a downhill blocker but issues with pad level and core strength lead to him being overtaken as the rep progresses. Fano’s level of NFL success might be tied to scheme fit and individual matchups.
With Cleveland’s next selection, No. 24 overall, the team gives their quarterbacks a new target in Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston:
Trying to land QB2 in this draft class (whether it’s Simpson or another prospect) should be on the table for Cleveland, either by trading up or sticking at 24 and hoping he falls. If that doesn’t work, though, landing Boston — a big receiver who runs like a smaller receiver (with great ball skills) — would be a fine alternative.
The 6-foot-4 and 210-pound Boston is Pro Football Focus’ fourth-ranked wide receiver, and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein sees comparisons to Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams:
Two-year starter with elite ball skills that should supersede athletic/speed limitations. A Puka Nacua comparison might feel strong, but like Nacua, Boston enters the draft with speed/separation concerns and outstanding competitive toughness. Boston gets off the line with good burst and maintains his top speed throughout the route. He could have issues beating press, but releases can also be schemed. He’s very skilled when it comes to winning jump balls and contested throws. Boston also knows how to win in the red zone. Acclimating to NFL competition could take a year, but Boston has the makeup to become a productive possession target with above-average red-zone value.
Realizing that wide receiver is a big need in Cleveland, the second round brings Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt at No. 39 overall:
Sarratt was one of Mendoza’s top targets during the Hoosiers’ championship run. He finished the season with 65 catches for 860 yards and a team-high 15 touchdowns. The talented receiver has good size (6-3, 213) and executes well out of his breaks, but his greatest strength is his hands. Just watch how he snagged multiple passes with Oregon defenders draped over him.
The 6-foot-2 and 213-pound Sarratt followed head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison in 2024. He was unable to match his 1,000-yard receiving season with the Dukes, but in two seasons with the Hoosiers, Sarratt had 118 receptions for 1,787 yards and 23 touchdown receptions, including 15 this past season.
