November is typically the month when NFL Draft scouts and talent evaluators begin to dig a little deeper into the player pool for the upcoming draft cycle.
There are currently two ways the Browns can attack the 2026 NFL Draft. Andrew Berry and company could either take a quarterback as their first choice or go after an offensive tackle/wide receiver.
Let's take a look at what things might look like if Cleveland decided to hold defender first:
If the Browns decide that both Dillon Gabriel And Sheader Sanders this is not their guy, they can attack a player like Ty Simpson with their first choice. He's shown a lot of the tools and qualities that Kevin Stefanski likes to have at quarterback, and he's been skyrocketing his draft boards as of late.
If they end up going QB first, the quality of talent at receiver and offensive tackle could drop significantly. Although the player is like Chris Bell incredibly talented and could be an upgrade at wide receiver, he could be considered somewhat of an achievable top 20 player.
Isaiah Peace he's also a solid left tackle, but if they were to take an offensive tackle in the top 10, it would immediately bolster that position rather than settling on a guy who wouldn't necessarily be an impact player for them there.
Essentially, the Browns cannot afford to “reach” or “get comfortable” in the 2026 draft. If they have a star offensive tackle or wide receiver in the top 10, they should pull the trigger. Fixing the offensive line and wide receivers should be their number one priority heading into draft weekend.
Now let's dive into option without QB with the first two choices:
Utah OT Choice Spencer Fanowho was an above-average to elite player on both sides of the offensive line would be a home run for Cleveland in this scenario. He immediately steps into the role of the Browns' starting left guard for the next 10 years.
Carnell Tate This is another player who is upgrading the wide receiver core and may have a higher ceiling than Bell, although their immediate impact will likely be the same. Taking a wide receiver with the second pick could and should be a realistic possibility in this scenario, depending on where they actually end up with that other first-round pick.
Jayden Maiava is a defensive back who has been gaining traction on draft boards lately due to his size, intangibles and arm talent. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and one of the nicest ball positions in the class, he could be a viable second-round option for Cleveland if they want to add another young quarterback to their roster.
Either strategy could ultimately work out based on how things pan out for the Browns quarterback in 2025, but for now, strengthening the offensive tackle and wide receiver looks to be the best path. Nothing a team does on offense will look different until the offensive tackles and wide receiver positions are addressed.
What strategy would you prefer for the team? deploy? Join other Browns fans in the comments section below.
