With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Cleveland Browns find themselves in a rare position of flexibility and volume. Armed with multiple premium picks and a roster that is strong in spots but thin in others, Cleveland can afford to attack value, double-dip at positions of need, and take calculated swings on upside talent.
This seven-round mock draft focuses on exactly that: surrounding the Browns’ elite defensive core with even more firepower, fortifying the offensive line, and adding depth across the roster with players who love football and bring production to the table.
Round 1, Pick 6: WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
The Browns’ need for dynamic receiving threats on the outside is impossible to ignore. Jerry Jeudy is currently the closest thing Cleveland has to a reliable wideout, but even he’s had his fair share of drops and miscues. Enter Jordyn Tyson, one of the top playmakers in the entire 2026 NFL Draft.
Tyson was a true volume receiver for an Arizona State offense that lacked consistent help around him in 2025. He’s a natural target magnet with the ability to win at all three levels of the field. While injuries are the primary concern, his 2025 season was plagued by them, and his 2024 campaign ended early as well. The upside is undeniable.
When healthy, Tyson is a difference-maker. The Browns can afford to take that gamble at No. 6, especially when the potential reward is a true WR1.
Round 1, Pick 24: G Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State)
At 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Olaivavega Ioane brings overwhelming size, width, and mass to the interior offensive line. What separates him from other maulers, however, is his athletic profile. Ioane moves with surprising lightness laterally and climbing to the second level, and his hands carry legitimate crushing power at the point of attack.
While he’s capable of driving defenders off the ball in the run game, Ioane’s calling card is pass protection. He stays square, maintains a strong base, and consistently delivers powerful, controlled strikes. He may not be the most flexible or explosive guard in the class, but he easily clears the necessary athletic thresholds for his size.
With questions surrounding Cleveland’s interior offensive line depth, Ioane makes perfect sense here as a potential early starter with long-term upside.
Round 2, Pick 39: EDGE R. Mason Thomas (Oklahoma)
R. Mason Thomas may be slightly undersized for an EDGE defender, but no one in the 2026 class converts speed to power quite like him. His first-step explosiveness is elite, and his ability to bend around the arc remains gravity-defying. What elevates his ceiling is his capacity to translate that burst into force at contact.
Thomas was a driving force behind Oklahoma’s defense, which finished in the top three in PFSN’s CFB Defense Impact Score with a stellar 95.8. He can be an immediate pass-rush catalyst and also brings a strong pursuit range.
Pairing Thomas opposite Myles Garrett would be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Round 3, Pick 70: WR Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
Even after selecting Jordyn Tyson in Round 1, wide receiver remains a major need, and the value here is too good to pass up.
Elijah Sarratt was the clear No. 1 target for Indiana and quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He’s as consistent as they come, posting an identical 79.8 PFSN CFB WR Impact score in each of the last two seasons. Sarratt seamlessly transitioned from Group of Five James Madison to the Power Four after following head coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana.
Despite battling some injuries in 2025, durability hasn’t been a long-term issue for him. His 15 touchdowns ranked first among receivers nationally, and his reliability in the red zone played a major role in Mendoza leading the nation in passing touchdowns.
Doubling up at receiver here gives Cleveland both immediate help and long-term stability at the position.
Round 4, Pick 107: QB Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
Chambliss is one of the more intriguing quarterback evaluations in this class. Currently ranked as PFSN’s 10th-best QB and No. 212 overall, his stock could rise after the late-season run he went on.
Listed at 6’1″, 200 pounds, and possibly measuring smaller, Chambliss doesn’t have ideal size, but he does have plenty of arm strength. While he’s a plus athlete, he prefers to operate as a passer, using his mobility to manipulate the pocket rather than scramble.
There are legitimate concerns: his jump from Division II Ferris State and the possibility of being a one-year wonder. However, teams consistently rave about his leadership and personality. This is a low-risk, high-upside pick that allows Cleveland to bring in a veteran and let Chambliss compete alongside Shedeur Sanders without significant early investment.
Round 5, Pick 141: C Jake Slaughter (Florida)
This is an extreme value. Slaughter slipping this far would be a gift for Cleveland.
At 6’4″, 303 pounds, he’s lighter than most interior linemen, but that profile works well at center, especially in zone-heavy schemes. He offers strong movement skills, intelligence, and consistency. Slaughter is PFSN’s No. 2-rated center, making this a clear value pick.
After taking Ioane earlier, double-dipping along the interior line is about stacking talent and figuring out the best combination later.
Round 5, Pick 146: LB Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)
Arguably the biggest value steal in this mock, Rodriguez somehow lasts until this spot despite finishing fifth in Heisman voting and not even receiving an invite to New York.
He’s the definition of production, piling up 128 tackles (10th nationally), 11 tackles for loss, and seven forced fumbles while consistently finding his way to the football. Pairing Rodriguez with Carson Schwesinger in the middle would give Cleveland one of the most instinctive linebacker duos in the league. The Browns already field an elite defense; this addition would only make it more intimidating.
Round 5, Pick 149: S Michael Taaffe (Texas)
Safety isn’t a glaring need, but value dictates the pick.
Taaffe is PFSN’s 17th-ranked safety and a proven overachiever. A former walk-on at Texas, he earned his role, became a two-year starter, and served as a team captain. He brings toughness, leadership, and reliability, exactly what you want in depth pieces who may be called upon due to injury.
Round 6, Pick 206: CB Christian Gray (Notre Dame)
Gray is a quietly excellent corner who often found himself targeted simply because he lined up opposite standout sophomore Leonard Moore. Opposing offenses learned quickly that attacking him wasn’t a winning strategy.
Gray was a key contributor to Notre Dame’s top-10 graded defense per PFSN, finishing with an impressive 87.7 grade. He’s an underrated cover man who provides quality depth at a premium position.
Round 6, Pick 207: EDGE Caden Curry (Ohio State)
Curry often flew under the radar on a loaded Ohio State defense, but the production and tape tell the story. He ranked as the 11th-highest graded EDGE defender in the country according to PFSNÂ and consistently created disruption.
With so much star talent around him, Curry didn’t always get the spotlight, but he was a key piece of a historic Buckeyes defense and brings real rotational value.
Round 7, Pick 246: TE Lawson Luckie (Georgia)
From this point on, it’s about dart throws and betting on football character, and Luckie fits that mold.
With speculation surrounding David Njoku’s future in Cleveland, adding tight end depth makes sense. Luckie is more projection than production, but Georgia’s track record of developing tight ends speaks for itself. He offers upside, versatility, and long-term potential at a position that could soon see turnover.
