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The Cleveland Browns have filled crucial gaps in their roster, namely along their offensive line, in NFL free agency. Now, they get set to turn toward the 2026 NFL Draft, and we have plenty of mock drafts to sift through to see the different combinations of players the Browns could land in the draft to upgrade their roster.
After free agency, the main positional needs for the Browns remain the same. Left tackle and wide receiver are among their most pressing needs, while the long-term outlook of the safety position, tight end position, and more also need to be considered early on. One could make the argument as well, however, that the Browns are not in a position to chase positional-specific needs, but instead just take the best available players.
In a new mock draft done on the Daft on Draft podcast, the Browns can address two more needs. So, listening to that episode, who were the Browns able to land to continue to overhaul their roster in a transition year?
At this point, Browns fans are probably well aware of who Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling is. He has been a common match for the Browns in mock drafts, and that likely will not stop leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Browns could look at either Utah's Spencer Fano or Miami's Francis Mauigoa as well, Freeling is the only true left tackle at the top of the draft without any sort of size or athleticism concerns.
The reason we are seeing Freeling mocked over Mauigoa or Fano frequently at this point is that he is young, athletic, long, and a prototypical tackle. There are no questions about whether or not he is a tackle or a guard, and given the sample size of his last five games, there is plenty of reason to believe his best football is still ahead of him as well. Mauigoa has some athletic concerns about his ability to defend his outside shoulder against NFL pass rushers, and Fano has size and play-strength concerns about his ability to anchor in against NFL pass rushers.
Both also played exclusively right tackle in college, hence the late favoritism toward Freeling.
The one position the Browns have not made a move for yet throughout NFL free agency has been the wide receiver position. Needing to potentially overhaul the entire room over the next two seasons, the Browns need to target a young playmaker early in the 2026 NFL Draft. They do just that in Daft on Draft's mock draft, landing Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. with the 24th pick in the draft.
Cooper, a crucial member of Indiana's national championship-winning offense, has already visited with the Browns pre-draft. He has slot or Z potential at the NFL level, is creative after the catch, and is strong against press coverage off the line of scrimmage. Cooper would pair well with Jerry Jeudy, who also has slot and Z versatility to move both around, and is a piece to potentially replace him as well after the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns get Monroe Freeling, Omar Cooper Jr. in new 2026 NFL mock draft
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After free agency, the main positional needs for the Browns remain the same. Left tackle and wide receiver are among their most pressing needs, while the long-term outlook of the safety position, tight end position, and more also need to be considered early on. One could make the argument as well, however, that the Browns are not in a position to chase positional-specific needs, but instead just take the best available players.
In a new mock draft done on the Daft on Draft podcast, the Browns can address two more needs. So, listening to that episode, who were the Browns able to land to continue to overhaul their roster in a transition year?
Who the Browns landed with the 6th pick in the mock draft
At this point, Browns fans are probably well aware of who Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling is. He has been a common match for the Browns in mock drafts, and that likely will not stop leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Browns could look at either Utah's Spencer Fano or Miami's Francis Mauigoa as well, Freeling is the only true left tackle at the top of the draft without any sort of size or athleticism concerns.
The reason we are seeing Freeling mocked over Mauigoa or Fano frequently at this point is that he is young, athletic, long, and a prototypical tackle. There are no questions about whether or not he is a tackle or a guard, and given the sample size of his last five games, there is plenty of reason to believe his best football is still ahead of him as well. Mauigoa has some athletic concerns about his ability to defend his outside shoulder against NFL pass rushers, and Fano has size and play-strength concerns about his ability to anchor in against NFL pass rushers.
Both also played exclusively right tackle in college, hence the late favoritism toward Freeling.
Who the Browns landed with the 24th pick
The one position the Browns have not made a move for yet throughout NFL free agency has been the wide receiver position. Needing to potentially overhaul the entire room over the next two seasons, the Browns need to target a young playmaker early in the 2026 NFL Draft. They do just that in Daft on Draft's mock draft, landing Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. with the 24th pick in the draft.
Cooper, a crucial member of Indiana's national championship-winning offense, has already visited with the Browns pre-draft. He has slot or Z potential at the NFL level, is creative after the catch, and is strong against press coverage off the line of scrimmage. Cooper would pair well with Jerry Jeudy, who also has slot and Z versatility to move both around, and is a piece to potentially replace him as well after the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns get Monroe Freeling, Omar Cooper Jr. in new 2026 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
