The Browns’ pick is contained within this post of the 2026 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, but brace yourselves for what you are about to read. We are releasing four picks at a time in one post to give you more substance to digest how the draft is unfolding. Here you can see all of our NFL mock draft coverage for the Cleveland Browns.
Picks 1-4 of the Mock Draft
Now, let’s see what the 5-8 picks are.
No. 5 - Giants - Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
The selection and write-up were made by Barry Shuck:
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 31: Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on prior to a game against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 31: Caleb Downs #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on prior to a game against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 90th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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This is a huge need for New York. Downs has been coined the best defensive player in the draft and to be sitting there at #5 is a bit of a surprise. DE David Bailey, RB Jeremiyah Love, and WR Carnell Tate would have fit nicely as well, but Downs is a beast.
Downs has incredible instincts when the other team is running the ball. He can play multiple positions, such as linebacker in the 4-2-5, and is a tackling machine. Downs had 257 total tackles with 16 tackles for loss in three college seasons. A leader and an instant impact player for the Giants. He is sticky in man coverage and has top-tier ball coverage skills. Not a great blitzer, but will when asked. Very consistent tackler and a finisher.
No. 6 - Browns - Rueben Bain, DE, Miami
The selection and write-up were made by Tmartin5785:
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after a third quarter sack against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Rueben Bain Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after a third quarter sack against the Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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I know this is a “luxury” pick, but he is one of the two best players on the board (along with RB Jeremiyah Love) and makes more sense than a running back. He will pair with Myles Garrett, Mason Graham, and Maleik Collins for a terrifying front four. There was no wide receiver or offensive tackle worthy of the 6th pick. My top pick was taken at No. 5, so I would trade out if possible.
This pick could also be a hedge against any Garrett trade that could potentially happen. I did contemplate Tate or Freeling, but Bain is a much better prospect and is actually worth the 6th pick.
No. 7 - Commanders - Jeremiyah Love, RB Notre Dame
The selection and write-up were made by Ezweav:
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball during a game against the Stanford Cardinal on November 29, 2025 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball during a game against the Stanford Cardinal on November 29, 2025 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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With this exercise, I’m going to do it how I would draft, maybe not necessarily how they would. To me Love is easily the best player on the board, and that’s what the draft is about.
Perhaps running back isn’t their biggest need, but I don’t think the draft is about needs, I think the draft is about trying to get the best players that fall to you, and they’d be getting a real good one here. And not for nothing, it would be a pretty serious upgrade at the position as well.
No. 8 - Saints - Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
The selection and write-up were made by Slaytanic Brownie:
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 06: Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the Big Ten Championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 06: Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the Big Ten Championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
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New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis said we were going to trade up with the Browns to take their number six pick, but they wanted a little too much for it, so we figured we’d go with the next best wide receiver. We never thought he would drop to number 8 and the fact that we get to match him up with a fellow Buckeye in Chris Olave is a dream come true. Brian Hartline coached both of these guys their entire college careers and had them ready to start from day 1.
Carnell is going to take heat off Chris and we look to see big numbers from both guys considering Tate’s 85.7% contested catch rate last season he is going to hold his own when he is double teamed more than the normal rookie receiver.
Up next will be the 9-12 picks in the 2026 DBN Community Mock Draft.