3 biggest questions around the Cleveland Browns following their 10 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is behind us and the Cleveland Browns came out with 10 new rookies to add to the roster. Following the draft, there are still several key questions about the Browns.
We’re a couple of days past the 2026 NFL Draft and the dust has settled. The Cleveland Browns were trade-happy during the draft and walked away with 10 selections to add to the roster.
Cleveland came out of the first round by filling its biggest needs at wide receiver and offensive tackle, then it looked to be about the best player available from there. With the draft now over, there are a few questions worth asking about the Browns.
Cleveland Browns’ 2026 draft class
- Round 1, No. 9: OT Spencer Fano, UTAH
- Round 1, No. 24: WR KC Concepcion
- Round 2, No. 39: WR Denzel Boston, Washington
- Round 2, No. 58: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
- Round 3, No. 85: OT Austin Barber, Florida
- Round 5, No. 146: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama
- Round 5, No. 149: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama
- Round 6, No. 182: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas
- Round 7, No. 202: TE Carsen Ryan, BYU
Who is going to be the slot corner for the Browns?
I have to be honest here, I thought the Browns were going to select a cornerback at some point during the draft. They didn’t and it’s maybe the biggest need on the roster now. Not only is the slot cornerback spot a question mark with Myles Harden currently set to be the starter there, but more boundary depth is a need too.
Cleveland could still sign a free agent to be their starting slot or make a trade for someone like the Colts’ Kenny Moore. Harden and Myles Bryant are the two options on the roster currently, as well as using rookie Emmanuel McNeil-Warren there in certain looks.
Cleveland can’t get beat like a drum again from the position in 2026, it was one of the only weaknesses for the defense last season. Undrafted free agent Michael Coats Jr. is another player I’ll be looking at for this role.
Who will be the odd man out in the Browns’ wide receiver room?
Going into the draft it was known the Browns were going to take at least one wide receiver early, but they ended up coming out with two. KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston are going to be important playmakers for the Browns during the 2026 season and in the future. The room needed an influx of talent and that’s just what it got.
Jerry Jeudy will still be a top wideout for the Browns but there are major questions outside of the three mentioned. Isaiah Bond showed promise last year clearing 300 receiving yards in limited opportunity, but he’s an undrafted free agent after all. Cedric Tillman is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, and he’s the guy I’m looking at to be a potential cut following training camp.
Cleveland taking Boston gives them their X receiver in an ideal world and it’s bad news for Tillman, who has struggled to stay healthy the last couple of seasons. How the back end of the wideout rotation shakes out will be worth watching.
How will the Browns’ four quarterbacks shake out?
It was a huge question on whether or not the Browns would add another quarterback after drafting Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel a year ago. Cleveland pulled the trigger on taking Arkansas QB Taylen Green in the sixth round of the draft and they’ll now move through the rest of the offseason with four quarterbacks it appears.
With it being a new coaching staff, no one is safe in the rotation. A quarterback competition will play out and someone is set to be cut or traded out of the four on the roster. Deshaun Watson is safe with his contract currently, so it’s between Gabriel and Sanders. The Browns aren’t cutting Green, even as a sixth-round pick. You can cross that idea off.
I expect the Browns will end up cutting Gabriel following the preseason after they fail to trade him. Gabriel was Kevin Stefanski’s guy at the position and there’s no reason to believe it works out in Cleveland for him.
