The Cleveland Browns are staring at a franchise-altering crossroads as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. After a season defined by inconsistent offensive sparks and backfield injuries, Andrew Berry finds himself holding a premium pick in a class loaded with “generational” labels and high-stakes playmakers.
Jeremiyah Love Emerges as the Cleveland Browns’ No. 6 Target
The draft noise shifted significantly this week following reports that the Browns are heavily linked to Notre Dame star Jeremiyah Love at the No. 6 overall spot. Love, a dynamic playmaker who found the end zone 18 times last season, has become the focal point of the Browns’ draft strategy, according to recent buzz.
While taking a running back in the top 10 is usually a front-office sin, Love’s hybrid profile as a receiver and rusher makes him the rare exception to the rule.
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The momentum for this shock pick gained traction during a recent episode of “The ESPN Cleveland Podcast.” Longtime Browns analyst Tony Grossi suggested that if Love is sitting there at six, the value might simply be too high for the Browns to ignore, regardless of their current roster construction.
“If Jeremiah’s love slips to six, surely the Browns will have to decide whether to take it or trade the pick. And it depends what they got in the trade that would equal or surpass the value of just taking him. I think there’s a case to make to take him. They were a really good team and didn’t have obvious holes elsewhere. You’d take him, and you could always trade one or the other ones,” Grossi noted.
This interest comes despite the Browns drafting Quinshon Judkins in the second round just last year. Judkins showed flashes but struggled with efficiency, averaging 3.6 yards per carry before a fractured fibula ended his season. Love represents the home-run threat this offense lacks.
He finished his South Bend career with 2,882 rushing yards and 11 games of 100-plus yards, landing in the No. 4 spot in the PFSN CFN RB Impact Rankings. The Browns’ current situation demands a playmaker who doesn’t rely on perfect quarterback play.
Last season, wideout Jerry Jeudy led the team’s receivers with only two touchdowns, and the departure of David Njoku in free agency left a massive void in the middle of the field. Love isn’t just a “lugger” of the football; his elite elusiveness and receiving upside draw comparisons to Jahmyr Gibbs and Saquon Barkley.
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Pairing Love with a returning Judkins would give the Browns a dangerous 1-2 punch in the AFC North. While some critics argue the Browns should prioritize the offensive line or a true WR1, Love’s 1,372-yard performance in 2025 proved he can carry an entire unit.
If Berry pulls the trigger on April 23, it signals a win-now mandate for a regime that can no longer afford to wait for long-term projects to develop.
