Cleveland Browns NFL Mock Draft Roundup 4.0

The Browns have worked to remake their offensive line via free agency, but there's still uncertainty at left tackle, where holdover Dawand Jones played just three games last season. The 6-foot-5 Fano played right tackle his last two seasons with the Utes, but he played left tackle in 2023. He's also an option to play guard in the NFL because of his suboptimal arm length.

After addressing their OT need at the top of the draft, the Browns get a potential WR1 in Boston, who caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 TDs for the Huskies in 2025. Jerry Jeudy led all Cleveland wide receivers with just 602 receiving yards last season.

The Browns' most obvious needs are at wide receiver and offensive tackle -- despite plenty of new additions -- and I've been an advocate for considering Georgia's Monroe Freeling here to fill the left tackle need. But Tate is rated four spots higher than Freeling in my individual rankings, so let's go with the sure-handed wideout.

Tate averaged 17.2 yards per reception in 2025 and had just one drop. He's versatile and can stretch the field for new coach Todd Monken, posting 875 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. No Browns receiver had over 650 receiving yards or two touchdowns last season.

Cleveland's patience at left tackle pays off here by landing Lomu, who held down that spot opposite of Spencer Fano for the past two seasons at Utah. Lomu did not surrender a sack in 2025, but he must become a more physically formed tackle with improved strength at 6-6, 313 pounds.

Lomu is a balanced pass protector and an accurate striker in the running game. He would fill a gigantic need for the Browns by sliding in next to the team's three recent O-line additions: right tackle Tytus Howard, guard Zion Johnson and center/guard Elgton Jenkins.

Cornerback is a sneaky need for the Browns opposite five-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward. Cisse is a high-upside player who is comfortable getting up into press coverage and being physical with wide receivers at the point of attack.

They need to get a premier receiver, even if the quarterback situation is muddied. Tate would be that guy. He is a polished player who fits a major need.

Are they sold on the guys they have? That's debatable, especially with a new coach. Simpson would be an interesting pick for the Browns.

Like the team's quarterback situation, whether the Browns are playing for 2026 or building for 2027 and beyond is up for debate. In either case, there's a screaming need at left tackle, and Freeling is a left tackle who's been generating a bunch of pre-draft buzz. The 21-year-old is not a finished product, but his athletic traits fit the mold of Browns GM Andrew Berry's past picks. The Browns are open to trading down and then taking the best available wide receiver or left tackle. In this exercise, no trade came to fruition, and Freeling became the next key piece of the Cleveland rebuild. — Zac Jackson

The Browns have a bottom-three receiving corps and definitely don't have a true No. 1. Here, they resist the urge to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and instead turn to Boston, who's a red zone target at 6-foot-4 and has a chance to eventually become a true No. 1 outside receiver. The Browns value physicality and run-after-catch ability in their wide receivers, and though Boston might not possess top-end speed, he has a large catch radius and showed he can either drag or dodge tacklers for valuable extra yards after the catch. — Jackson

The Browns needed to completely rebuild their offensive line this offseason. They've started the process in free agency, signing several veterans, but could still use a further injection of talent. Especially at the tackle position. Enter Freeling, a riser throughout the 2025 season who is now firmly in my top 10 overall for this class. Freeling has upside as a true blindside protector for whoever is throwing passes in Cleveland in the future.

It's tempting to keep adding to the Browns' offensive line, and there are some talented players available here (albeit more tackles than interior players). Instead, let's have the Browns add size to their pass-catching room. Jerry Jeudy is best used as a secondary option, and Harold Fannin Jr. is an exciting young tight end. Boston would complement both as an outside ball winner who can win with his catching skills and size. He's a steady player who can win in the red zone and give the Browns quarterback, whoever that is, a reliable big target in tough situations.

Proposed trade: A rebuilding squad moves down from the No. 6 spot in this scenario — sensible given the lack of elite prospects in this draft coupled with Cleveland's need to continue building out its roster. Tyson, a two-time All-Big 12 choice, is a complete package who could be quite an asset for QB Shedeur Sanders or whomever the long-term answer here is behind center. Despite battling through an array of injuries in college, Tyson caught 136 balls (18 for TDs) over the past two seasons. His size (6-2, 203) is a plus.

A two-year starter at left tackle for the Utes, he'll need to get a little stronger in the NFL. But Lomu could also nicely provide the final piece to Cleveland's recently overhauled offensive line.

It feels like the Browns need to land an offensive tackle and receiver with their two first-round selections. In this simulation, they're willing to gamble that a Round 1-caliber OT will be waiting for them at Pick No. 24, selecting the highly enticing Tate here.

Cleveland's gamble back at Pick No. 6 pays off, as a left tackle prospect with first-round talent is still available here. I'm not projecting any trades in this mock, but if the Browns do indeed take a receiver with their initial first-round choice, it will not shock me if they look to move up from No. 24 for an OT.

The Browns are hitting the reset button on their offensive line. First, they traded for Tytus Howard. Then they signed Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and re-signed Teven Jenkins on the interior. Toss in getting Dawand Jones back from a season-ending knee injury, and this is a completely different unit from what we saw late in 2025. Freeling could be the final piece of the puzzle. His decision to declare for this class was originally a little bit of a surprise, considering he had 18 college starts. But I see franchise left tackle traits; he's quick and alert in pass pro, using his long 34¾-inch arms to his advantage.

I'm a huge fan of Lemon, and he could go earlier than 24th. The board just sort of fell this way in this mock draft. Cleveland wouldn't be complaining, though. It currently has Jerry Jeudy, Cedric Tillman and Isaiah Bond atop its depth chart -- meaning no real changes to a wide receivers room that had a league-low 1,467 yards last season. Lemon nearly met that himself with 1,156 receiving yards over 12 games at USC. He has a slot receiver's build at 5-11 and 192 pounds, but he plays as if he's much bigger, with a fierce approach to the game. Coupled with Monroe Freeling at No. 6, this would be a good first round for the Browns.

The Browns have a hole at left tackle, but all the best offensive linemen in this draft are right tackles. However, Freeling is starting to inch up on big boards and in mock drafts, so I think the Browns might take a swing and select the Georgia left tackle a bit earlier than some think. This might not seem like a big reach as the process goes on, though. Francis Mauigoa and Spencer Fano might be better offensive tackle prospects, but Freeling is the better fit here. Still, this was probably the hardest pick to figure out in this mock draft.

The Browns need to get a threat on the outside. Cooper's film is so good, but he seems to be on the rise during this draft process after what he showed at the combine. He's fantastic in short areas and can catch the ball well in traffic. Of course, Cooper also made the play of the year when he made that incredible touchdown catch in Indiana's win over Penn State. I thought Cooper was also the best wide receiver with the ball in his hands in the Big Ten.