Cleveland Browns’ $32 million rookie has put a fourth year player in a tough spot
The latest update from Todd Monken on rookie LT Spencer Fano is what you want to see from the first round pick and his development.
The Cleveland Browns have their first-round pick where they need him. Rookie left tackle Spencer Fano has won the starting job heading into the team’s first preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, and first-year head coach Todd Monken confirmed at Monday’s press conference that Fano would be running with the ones going forward.
The Browns are into their third week of training camp and entering game week for the first time. Monken has been adamant about making rookies earn their way rather than handing out starting spots, even to early-round picks figured to be starters. Fano fell into that category, working through what was technically a left tackle battle with Dawand Jones before pulling away over the weekend fully.
Spencer Fano proves himself against one of the NFL’s best
The No. 9 overall pick held his own against Pro Bowl edge rusher Jared Verse on Saturday, including a scuffle between the two before it was broken up. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle didn’t shy away from one of the most powerful pass rushers in the league, and it looks like that meant something to the coaching staff.
Second-round pick wide receiver Denzel Boston may be the biggest offensive standout of Browns training camp so far, but Fano locking down the starting left tackle job is a big deal too. Cleveland needs its first-round offensive tackle taking every first-team rep he can get ahead of a season where the expectation is for him to start all 17 games.
For Jones, entering his fourth year with the Browns, it would have been a real surprise if he won the job, no one has those kinds of expectations. Jones played in just three games last season due to injury. He has never played in more than 11 games in a single season, and that came during his rookie year. Each year in Cleveland has been shortened by injury, and his availability issues have made it clear he won’t be a long-term answer at offensive tackle.
Jones does have experience at both left and right tackle, which gives him value as a swing tackle at best. Jones will be a free agent after the season and something would have to go wrong for him to get substantial 2026 tape on the field.
Fano’s development is par for the course of exactly what you want to see from a first-round pick at this stage. He’s set to be the first-team offensive tackle for all of the preseason games and heading into the regular season, and the Browns have their guy at left tackle.
