The first round of the NFL Draft has concluded, and it was full of excitement thanks to plenty of trades in the first round. Several teams will have wrapped up Day 1 with a smile on their faces, including the Cleveland Browns, who had two first-round selections and decided to use both on the offensive side of the ball.
The Browns selected offensive lineman Spencer Fano with the 9th overall pick and wide receiver K.C. Concepcion at 24th overall. Both players should be immediate starters for the Browns and help quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Ex-NFL QB Claims Browns are Building Around Shedeur Sanders
The Browns spent a fifth-round pick on Sanders last season, and he started seven games for the team. Across those games, he struggled, throwing for seven touchdowns with 10 interceptions, and only completed 56,6% of his passes.
However, the Browns still believe that Sanders is their quarterback of the future. According to Chase Daniel via Speakeasy, “They’re all in on Shedeur Sanders. I’m telling you, they got an offensive tackle and this receiver. That cupboard is not bare whatsoever in offensive skill players for the Cleveland Browns.”
The Browns know they need to improve as an offense from what we have seen in previous years. Having stable quarterback play will help, but having better skill players will go a long way as well. Daniel also mentioned that the new head coach, Todd Monken, runs an offensive scheme that should fit Sanders perfectly. Daniel said, “I think that Shedeur fits Todd Monken’s offense way better than he fit Stefanski’s offense.
Since the Browns do not have a ton invested in Sanders, they will need to see significant improvements in 2026 to feel comfortable moving forward with him. Fano was their first pick of the round, and he will become an immediate starter for the Browns as their left tackle. He started 11 games at that spot during his college career.
As for Concepcion, he is a plug-and-play starter for the Browns. He was an incredibly productive player in college, scoring 28 touchdowns in 38 games at NC State and Texas A&M. He is a dynamic playmaker who can cause problems for defenses on all three levels. It would not be a surprise to see him take over as the WR1 for the Browns at some point in the upcoming season.
PFSN’s scouting report describes Concepcion as “A human joystick with incredible throttle control, change-of-direction, and spatial feel — traits that lend well to natural separation, RAC ability, and usage versatility.”
The Browns have been looking for a franchise quarterback for so long that it makes sense to pour resources into their offense to make it as successful as possible. Sanders will have plenty of help in 2026, and it is time to see what he is capable of over a full season.
