At least one draft analyst decided to have some fun in the lead up to the 2026 NFL draft as there exists tons of speculation (trade Myles Garrett?) and a sense of urgency sets in (will Deshaun Watson really get a shot this year?) at the quarterback position which still has a question mark as huge as the Grand Canyon by it.
That does not, however, change the reality for the Cleveland Browns. The two glaring needs remain left tackle and wide receiver. What do analysts say? By all means take a look.
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That analyst having fun is a Browns NFL draft trade is CBS Sports' Josh Edwards
CBS Sports analyst Josh Edwards has the Browns flipping spots with the Dallas Cowboys and taking their slot with the No. 12 overall selection to get Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling.
“Cleveland trades back, picks up additional draft capital and still lands a raw, but extremely talented left tackle,” he writes. “Monroe Freeling was playing his best football at the end of the season, but no one has to tell Browns head coach Todd Monken about his potential; Monken helped recruit him to Athens as Georgia's offensive coordinator.”
Well, I’ll be dawg gone if that doesn’t make a ton of sense.
With the No. 24, he has the team taking Cleveland Cavs’ guard Jaylon Tyson’s younger brother, Jordyn, from Arizona State, a receiver, were it not for injury issues many view as the best in the draft.
"Jordyn Tyson would not be available if it were not for a history of injuries and having not worked out this pre-draft process is concerning,” he writes. “Perhaps he is intentionally tanking his stock so he can live in his brother's (Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson) guest room. I jest.”
ESPN analyst Matt Miller has a wide receiver as the Browns’ priority and throws a curve
For ESPN’s Matt Miller, the obvious choice for the Browns is right down I-71. He has them selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 6.
"Based on their inaction at quarterback so far, the Browns seem content to roll into 2026 with Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson. So they could use this pick to help whoever is under center,” he writes. “Tate is the next man up in the talented Ohio State pipeline of receivers, and the sure-handed 6-foot-2 receiver had just one drop last season. Tate could eventually take over for the inconsistent Jerry Jeudy as Cleveland's WR1 to form a young tandem with Isaiah Bond, last year's UDFA find.”
I don’t know that Bond was actually a find, but hope springs eternal.
How’s this for a wrench from Miller? He has the Browns going to the defensive side of the ball, drafting cornerback Brandon Cisse out of South Carolina.
“The Browns have talent at cornerback, with Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell signed to long-term contracts,” he writes, “but they need another outside corner after Martin Emerson Jr. became a free agent. At 6-foot, 189 pounds, Cisse has the frame and speed to be a factor inside or outside the formation.”
So no tackle, huh?
ESPN’s Field Yates agrees with his colleague
ESPN analyst Field Yates is in agreement with Miller with respect to Tate.
He chooses the Ohio State receiver over Freeling because Tate ranked a few points higher on this board and acknowledges they both fill that glaring need.
“Tate averaged 17.2 yards per reception in 2025 and had just one drop. He's versatile and can stretch the field for new coach Todd Monken, posting 875 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns,” he writes. “No Browns receiver had over 650 receiving yards or two touchdowns last season.”
That last statement hurts.
As for the No. 24 pick? He likes Utah left tackle Caleb Lomu.
“Lomu is a balanced pass protector and an accurate striker in the running game,” he writes. “He would fill a gigantic need for the Browns by sliding in next to the team's three recent O-line additions: right tackle Tytus Howard, guard Zion Johnson and center/guard Elgton Jenkins.”
Charles Davis of NFL.com likes to have fun with mocks
Charles Davis of NFL.com seems to like to toy around with mock drafts. There’s no other way to explain him projecting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 3. That doesn’t matter to Browns fans, but it’s…umm…interesting.
As for the Browns, for him, the pick is Tate.
“Playmakers have been at a premium for the Browns, who stay in state to find their new starting receiver,” he writes.
As for the No. 24 pick, he has them taking Utah’s Caleb Lomu, a tackle.
“The Browns continue to rebuild their offensive line with Lomu, who will compete right away for the left tackle spot,” he writes.
Davis is a man of few words, it’s appreciated.
Justin Melo of SI.com doesn’t think the Browns wait until 12 for Monroe Freeling
Justin Melo of SI.com doesn’t believe the Browns can wait until No. 12 to get Freeling. He predicts they will take him at No. 6 overall after staying pat.
“Georgia's Monroe Freeling possesses the highest ceiling despite his inexperience,” he writes. “The other top prospects have questionable length and/or movement skills, and Freeling looks like a natural left tackle with functional athleticism.”
Melo, however, sees a different wide receiver at No. 24, however. That WR is Washington’s David Boston.
“Attention now shifts to wide receiver, where they have Jerry Jeudy coming off a disappointing 2025 and not much else,” he writes. “Denzel Boston is a legitimate X-receiver with a massive catch radius. Boston gives off Tee Higgins vibes on the boundary with vacuum-sealed hands and contested-catch ability.”
Disappointing might be a mild way to describe Jeudy’s season.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: NFL mock draft 2026 shows what Browns would get in a track back