The Cleveland Browns head into their bye week holding the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, along with the 20th selection courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In this seven-round mock draft, the team
We'll be using Pro Football Focus's simulator for this mock, and the rule is that for each selection, a player must be ranked at or below five spots higher than the pick slot on the big board, so for the 20th overall pick, player #15 would be fair game, but player #14 would be off-limits. This is to create some level of intrigue and variety with each selection, but to also add some degree of reality.
The strategy for this mock is find a playmaking #1 wide receiver, rebuild the offensive line, and stock up on more assets, putting just about all of the team's quarterback eggs in the 2027 basket.
Round 1, Pick 4 - TRADE
In this scenario, Fernando Mendoza and/or Dante Moore are either taken first and second overall by the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, or decide to return to school. That leaves the Browns with the choice of either Alabama's Ty Simpson at QB or going in a different direction. Wary of committing to a player with so little experience, the Browns elect to trade down, as the Los Angeles Rams take advantage of their fortune (and the Atlanta Falcons' misfortune) to secure their QB of the future, with Matthew Stafford approaching 40 years old.
Cleveland Browns receive: 1.12, 2.56, 5.163, 2027 1st
Los Angeles Rams receive: 1.4, 5.147
Perhaps it takes more than this for the Rams to trade up eight spots for a quarterback, but according to the Fitzgerald-Spielberger trade value chart, this results in a net positive of 1,947 points for the Browns, while they ended up at positive 1,902 as a result of the Jacksonville Jaguars trade this past year. This arms the Browns with another extra first-rounder next year, and an extra second-round pick this year.
Round 1, Pick 12 - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Despite playing in the shadow of Jeremiah Smith, Tate has taken a huge step forward this season for the Buckeyes, showing significant improvement and elite body control and ball skills. He stands 6-foot-3 195 pounds with solid, it not elite, athleticism. He's an excellent route runner and has not dropped a pass this year. He's brought down a ridiculous 10 of 11 contested balls thrown his way and is averaging 17.3 yards per catch. Tate's all-around ability and his feel for the position give him true #1 potential at the next level. Ideally he'd be the team's pick at #18 with the Jags' selection, but with the way Tate is playing, he's not going to be available.