The Cleveland Browns will not make the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, instead trading out of that spot with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cleveland drops down to No. 9, where plenty of value should remain at both of the team’s greatest positions of need: offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke in the days and weeks leading up to the draft about “maximizing the asset,” which the team may have a better chance of accomplishing by trading down with Kansas City.
“Our mindset going into the draft with our most valuable asset isn’t about, ‘Hey, just trade it away,'” Berry said. “It’s maximizing the asset. And that can, at different times, take different forms.”
The Browns picked up selections No. 74 in Round 3 and No. 148 in Round 5 as part of the deal.
Cleveland Selects Offensive Tackle Spencer Fano Inside Top 10
GettyUtah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
It is hard to consider the top 10 of the 2026 draft as anything but a massive win for the Browns after the trade with the Chiefs ultimately resulted in the addition of two quality draft assets followed almost immediately by the selection of Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9.
Cleveland needed to finish its offensive line rebuild and did so in resounding fashion with Fano, the first offensive lineman selected and the top-ranked lineman/tackle on the draft board of Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
“[Fano] became just the fifth unanimous All-American in school history (and the first on offense),” Brugler wrote. “He also became the first Utah player to win the Outland Trophy and was the second of Polynesian descent to win the honor (Penei Sewell).”
“Fano has the feet, demeanor and recovery balance of a starting NFL tackle,” Brugler added. “He has the talent to be an immediate NFL starter at right tackle or guard.”
Browns head coach Todd Monken indicated on Thursday after his new team made the pick that Fano is going play on the left side of the line, as Tytus Howard will start at right tackle after Cleveland traded a fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans to acquire him earlier this offseason.
Browns Have Second Pick Remaining in Opening Round of NFL Draft
GettyTexas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion.
The Browns have another first-round selection remaining in this year’s draft, which the team will make at No. 24 overall barring another trade.
Based on Cleveland’s needs and the vast majority of reporting in the weeks and months leading up to draft night on Thursday, the Browns will hunt a wide receiver at that spot.
Carnell Tate of Ohio State went No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans, while the New Orleans Saints selected Jordyn Tyson out of Arizona State with the 8th overall pick. A handful of quality prospects at the position remain available, though a couple more pass-catchers could easily come off the board before the Browns get back on the clock.
Tate and Tyson were the only two receivers selected inside the top 15.
Browns Make First Major Trade of NFL Draft With Chiefs: Move Down From No. 6 Pick