In his first mock draft for 2026, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. Addresses the Browns' biggest needs by selecting Utah's Spencer Fano at No. 6 and using the second first-round pick (via Jacksonville) at 24 on Georgia's Zachariah Branch.
Since it's a foregone conclusion that the Raiders will select National Champion Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza first overall, the Browns need to focus on addressing other areas of their broken offense.
Due to injury, looming retirement, being too expensive to resign or poor performance, the offensive line is looking at four to five new starters. The wide receiver room is in desperate need of playmakers (plural) as Cleveland ranked 31st in average points per game at 16.4.
Let's see who Kiper feels are the "perfect fit" for the Browns in this upcoming NFL Draft.
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6. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah (6'6", 302-lbs)
The Browns had an amazing 2025 draft, and they can kick things off in 2026 with a versatile tackle. Over 37 career games (36 starts), Fano allowed just four sacks, and the most recent came in Week 1 of the 2024 season. He played on both sides at Utah, and he has the size, power and technique to excel at either tackle spot. Cam Robinson and Jack Conklin are both free agents, so I could see Cleveland pairing Fano with Dawand Jones -- who is returning from a knee injury -- and trying to improve its middle-of-the-road pass protection.
24. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia (5'10", 180-lbs)
We're sticking with offense after Cleveland got tackle Spencer Fano earlier. No team saw less production from its wide receiver group in 2025 than the Browns. Their WR room totaled just 1,467 receiving yards, the lowest in the league and more than 100 yards shy of the next worst (the Jets). The Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,793 yards) and the Rams' Puka Nacua (1,715) each cleared that number on their own! You get the point: Cleveland has to go get a pass catcher.
Branch is smaller at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but he's electric. No one can catch him when he gets into space, and he has the ability to turn a quick pass into a big gain. Branch had 81 catches for 811 yards and six scores this past season.
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