New Cleveland and former Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber has signed his rookie contract with the Browns, the team announced.
According to Over the Cap, Barber's projected total contract value for being selected No. 86 overall in the third round is $6.87 million, including an average annual value of $1.72 million. Barber's signing bonus was not available at press time.
A 6-foot-7, 318-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., Barber spent five seasons with Florida after signing with the Gators as a 247Sports three-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.
Barber earned Third-Team All-SEC recognition following his final campaign with the Gators in 2025, in which he allowed three sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in pass protection, according to Pro Football Focus, and posted an elite 90.0 (out of 100) season-long run blocking grade from the outlet, the highest mark of his career in that category.
In his UF career, Barber gave up 11 sacks and 61 pressures over 1,432 snaps in pass protection, and posted season-long run blocking grades of 80.3 (high quality) in 2022, 68.6 (above average) in 2023 and 67.4 (above average) in 2024.
Barber logged over 2,500 offensive snaps as a member of Florida's offensive line, including 2,087 at left tackle and 490 at right tackle. He started in 38 of his 50 career appearances with the Gators, dating back to his true freshman season.
At the NFL Combine, Barber produced a 5.12-second 40-yard dash result, which ranks in the 74th percentile among offensive tackles to participate in the event since 1999, according to MockDraftable. Additionally, he posted a 32-inch vertical jump (87th percentile) and a 111-inch broad jump (84th percentile).
The Browns traded up with the Los Angeles Chargers to secure Barber in the third round.
"We really liked him from the jump," Browns coach Todd Monken said, via ClevelandBrowns.com. "You don't know how it's going to go. There are certain players that are picked higher than you would have thought, and there's others that are a little bit lower.
"Certainly, we knew we had to address the offensive line. And so, as he was still up on the board, I think the opportunity to move back and then as it continued then – let's not wait any longer. Let's go up and get him and we're fired up to get him."
Cleveland double-dipped on offensive tackles through the first three rounds, initially taking Utah's Spencer Fano in the first round. To pair, the Browns traded for Tytus Howard and signed him to a three-year contract extension this offseason.
Accordingly, Barber will likely operate as the Browns' swing tackle to begin his NFL career, unless he moves to guard, which some analysts projected during his draft process due to his 33 1/8-inch arm length.
Cleveland also signed a pair of guards in free agency in Zion Johnson and Teven Jenkins, but Jenkins joined the club on a one-year, $4 million contract, so it does not appear he is in the team's long-term plans.
Barber marks Florida's fifth 2026 NFL Draft pick to sign his rookie deal, following Green Bay Packers kicker Trey Smack, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Devin Moore, Buffalo Bills punter Tommy Doman and Indianapolis Colts edge rusher George Gumbs Jr.
Defensive tackle Caleb Banks, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, and center Jake Slaughter, the Chargers' second-round selection, are Florida's only draft picks who remain unsigned.