Cleveland Browns
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Browns predicted to make surprising pick at 6th overall.
The Cleveland Browns have two first-round picks, and the team has been widely expected to draft an offensive lineman at sixth overall.
However, ESPN NFL insider Matt Miller believes the Browns are focused on wide receiver at sixth overall. And, if they don’t take a wide receiver at sixth overall, it’s due to the team trading out of the pick.
“It’s difficult to predict what Cleveland will do. Se last year’s trade back from the No. 2 pick,” Miller wrote. “But chatter around the league is that wide receiver is in play at No. 6. Carnell Tate (Ohio State) is the name most often associated with the Browns. It should be noted that some leaguewide sources believe the Browns would trade out from No. 6 to a team like Dallas. Which is trying to move up for a pass rusher.”
The Browns, wanting to draft a receiver at sixth overall, would likely be for Carnell Tate. He can be the team’s No. 1 receiver. It also would likely signal that Cleveland isn’t as high on the offensive tackles available at the top of the draft. Or, they view the ones who could be available at 24th overall as similar.
Tate recorded 51 receptions for 875 yards and 9 touchdowns last season at Ohio State. However, he was never the Buckeyes’ No. 1 receiver in any of his three seasons with the team. So there are some question marks around him.
Browns Will go Best Player Available
Although Miller believes the Browns are focused on wide receiver at sixth overall, another insider believes it still could be offensive tackle.
Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN believes tackle could still be the play. But, he does believe the Browns will draft the best player available throughout the draft.
“GM Andrew Berry has preached a best-player-available philosophy. So Cleveland is open to several approaches depending on how its draft board evolves,” Oyfeusi wrote. “One interesting dynamic is the Browns specifically needing a left tackle in a draft where most of the top tackles play the right side.”
“Berry’s comments at the annual league meeting indicated that he wouldn’t typecast a tackle prospect based on what side he played in college. That could put players such as Francis Mauigoa (Miami) and Spencer Fano (Utah). Both lined up primarily at right tackle, in consideration at No. 6.”
Although Oyefusi believes the Browns will draft the best player available, he does believe offensive tackle and receiver will be the first two picks.
Cleveland Plans to be Flexible at NFL Draft
The Browns are still a bit away from competing for a playoff spot. So Berry knows the draft is key for the team.
The NFL Draft is a good time for Cleveland to add young, impactful players to the roster. So, Berry said the team is focused on hitting their draft picks and being flexible throughout the three days.
“The draft is really for highest sustainable impact,” Berry said. “And that’s not to say that need or positional value doesn’t have some role in that. But at the same time, it’s not like you’re just going to match your picks to the best of whatever. …
“You have to be flexible. You have to be adaptable in terms of where the player pool is and where the talent pool is. … So, you have to be open to the fact that it may not look exactly the way that you’d envision it. Or that you’d hope that it would look coming out of it.”
Cleveland has nine total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.