It has been a bizarre run for the Cleveland Browns and head coach Kevin Stefanski. A former two-time NFL Coach of the Year recipient, Stefanski now has his future in Cleveland in jeopardy. Since making the playoffs with an 11-6 record back in 2023, the Browns have gone 5-22 in the last 27 games. If there is any way for this tenure to regain some momentum, they will need to replenish this roster with impact players, and quickly.

With only two victories to their credit, Cleveland is very much already in 2026 NFL Draft mode. As the Browns now fight to have the No. 1 overall selection potentially in the class, it is never too early to look ahead a bit. In order to do so, I put together a 7-round mock draft. Before diving into my selections, I consulted A to Z Sports Browns writer Brandon Little for a little more context on the current state of the Browns and what their ideology should be heading into the draft next April.

Here is what little had to say.

“The Cleveland Browns are being weighed down by their inability to get the most important position in the game right — quarterback. Using a valuable pick like the No. 3 overall selection on a player who looks like the top quarterback in the draft is the kind of swing the Browns need to take. Cleveland took two low-level swings at addressing the position with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, but it’s time for them to pursue a player who can truly change the franchise. The Browns gained an extra pick in 2026 for multiple reasons, and one of them is to be able to go and get a quarterback if they need to. With how their season has gone this year, it didn’t take a trade up to make it happen in this mock draft. “

As Little stated, finding the Browns’ franchise quarterback was the top priority. From there, it was about putting a strong support system around him. Filling the biggest holes on the roster was, and is, the most important thing.

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Browns 7-round mock draft 

Round 1, Pick 3: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana 

Formally a standout at Cal, Mendoza has become a completely different player so far in his lone year in Bloomington. At 6-5 and 225 pounds, he is a talented pocket passer with enough athleticism to make some plays as an extender. His floor is very high as a quarterback.

Round 1, Pick 20: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State 

Tate was a good player in 2024, but he has become a superstar in 2025. Possessing a great frame and huge catch radius, Tate makes some magic happen working at the catch point. He is also silky smooth, creating easy separation as a route runner.

Round 2, Pick 37: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon 

The Browns have a desperate need at left tackle, and could have another one at right tackle very soon as well. While World hasn’t been perfect so far since transferring over from Nevada, his combination of size, length, and movement skills should allow him to develop into a starting tackle early in his career.

Round 3, Pick 68: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo 

A bigger safety, McNeil-Warren makes it three straight seasons for a Toledo player to go inside the Top 100 selections. While he makes a lot of plays near the line of scrimmage and in the box, he also has more coverage skills than you would anticipate. Versatility is the name of the game for McNeil-Warren.

Round 4, Pick 103: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M 

Bisontis is a physical offensive lineman who has experience playing both right tackle and guard, but the latter fits him best. He excels as a pass blocker right now, but there is plenty of run game impact to develop on the next level. 

Round 5, Pick 145: Tacario Davis, CB, Washington 

Tall, long, and fluid, Davis has a really intriguing physical profile to develop. He just has never been able to put it all fully together, but the upside is still there. 

Round 5, Pick 146: Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan 

Moore has quietly been a very important defensive piece for the Wolverines over the last two seasons. He plays with tremendous power and motor from his defensive end position. That combination should give Moore a chance to stick long-term. 

Round 5, Pick 148: Aaron Anderson, WR, LSU 

Anderson is a smaller pass catcher who makes his living from the slot. The former Alabama transfer is dynamic after the catch and is an explosive separator as a route runner. 

Round 6, Pick 204: Dametrious Crownover, OT, Texas A&M

While he’s a bit stiff, Crownover is a massive offensive tackle who has improved during the course of the season. That raw size and length is enough to become a rosterable option. 

Round 7, Pick 241: Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona 

Stukes has made his impact felt from the slot, but he has the athleticism to play all over the secondary. At this point in the draft, Stukes feels like a versatile backup who can also contribute on special teams. 

Grading the mock 

To wrap everything up, Little was kind enough to come back and give his insight and grade the mock draft. Here is what Little had to say.

“Cleveland needs a lot more than just a quarterback on offense, and they do a good job of getting Fernando Mendoza help with their next two picks. Carnell Tate would have a chance to compete to be Cleveland’s top pass catcher alongside Jerry Jeudy right away. Tate’s ability to win as a route runner and make contested catches would be beloved in Cleveland. The Browns are expected to have a significantly different offensive line next season, and World would immediately take one of the tackle spots. Selecting Chase Bisontis and Dametrious Crownover adds two more offensive line pieces that would be welcomed, as Cleveland needs to thoroughly retool the unit.

“Tacario Davis fits the mold of a cornerback who could excel in Jim Schwartz’s scheme with his long frame and physical style. Davis is a very Browns-like pick for this front office, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if it happened. Cleveland addresses its biggest needs in this draft: a quarterback, a weapon to throw to, and a tackle to protect him. Those three additions alone would significantly change the Browns’ offense and represent a major step in the right direction. Andrew Berry looked to have knocked it out of the park in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he needs to do it again in 2026 to give the Browns a chance to get back to the playoffs next season.”

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