Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy.
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Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy.
Daniel Jeremiah isn’t buying that the Cleveland Browns will swing for an offensive tackle with their first pick in the draft.
The NFL.com draft analyst has Cleveland taking a weapon for Shedeur Sanders instead.
In his latest mock draft, Jeremiah projects the Browns to select Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the sixth overall pick — betting that a quality offensive tackle will still be on the board when Cleveland picks again at No. 24.
“It feels like the Browns need to land an offensive tackle and receiver with their two first-round selections,” Jeremiah said. “In this simulation, they’re willing to gamble that a Round 1-caliber OT will be waiting for them at Pick No. 24, selecting the highly enticing Tate here.”
Tate has been connected to Cleveland in multiple mock drafts this offseason. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Ohio State product posted 51 catches for 875 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. He did it in 11 games — missing three due to injury — as the No. 2 target behind Heisman finalist Jeremiah Smith.
The knock on Tate is speed. He ran a 4.53 in the 40 at the combine, but his game isn’t built on straight-line athleticism. Tate wins through solid route-running and elite contested-catch ability. Tate would become Ohio State’s sixth first-round receiver since 2022, following Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.
Carnell Tate Addition Bad News for Jerry Jeudy
If the Browns land Tate, the question becomes what it means for Jeudy’s grip on the No. 1 receiver role. It’s a grip that’s already loosening. Jeudy finished last season with 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns — a sharp drop from his Pro Bowl-caliber 2024 campaign in which he totaled 90 receptions and 1,229 yards.
The Browns’ revolving door at quarterback didn’t help, but Jeudy also logged 10 drops. Cleveland’s receiver room combined for just 1,467 receiving yards — the worst in the NFL.
Despite his down year, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the combine that Jeudy “is gonna be a big part” of the offense in 2026. However, he left the door open for adding more weapons.
“I think we can add all across the offense to be honest,” Berry said. “We’re really pleased with some of the younger players we have. Jerry [Jeudy] is gonna be a big part of it, and we’re pleased with Isaiah [Bond’s] rookie year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t add to the arsenal.”
Jeudy has two years left on his three-year, $58 million extension.
Cleveland’s Offensive Line Overhaul
The reason Jeremiah feels comfortable projecting a receiver at No. 6 is the aggressive work Cleveland has done up front this offseason. The Browns rebuilt much of their offensive line in the span of a week.
They acquired right tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans in exchange for a fifth-round pick, then signed him to a three-year extension. They followed that by landing guard Zion Johnson on a three-year, $49.5 million deal and two-time Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins on a two-year, $24 million contract. Teven Jenkins was also re-signed.
If the Browns trust their offensive line additions and believe a tackle will slide to 24, the path to taking a top receiver in the draft at six opens up.