- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 784,862
- Reaction score
- 53
The 2026 NFL draft is slowly approaching. The Cleveland Browns are projected to be drafting within the top five. The team is only separated by one win for the top pick. However, they could play themselves out of a top-five pick as they enter the easy part of their schedule. The team has a lot of talent to win games. The Browns’ quarterback switch could be the catalyst the team needed to make a push for the playoffs.
To celebrate the start of October, I have devised a spooky mock draft that could show Browns fans their future if they miss on a top quarterback prospect. The team will likely need a top quarterback prospect regardless of how well the rookie quarterbacks play. But what could the Browns do if they find themselves out of the range for Fernando Mendoza, LaNorris Sellers, and Dante Moore, assuming those quarterbacks declare? In this mock draft, we find out what the non-top options at quarterback look like.
Francis Mauigoa is one of the best offensive linemen in the country. Mauigoa is a true junior from the Miami Hurricanes. The right tackle is a cumbersome 6-foot-6, 335-pounder. Maugua made a name for himself last year by keeping top draft pick Cam Ward upright all season. This year, Mauigoa is keeping quarterback Carson Beck safe. The Hurricanes are one of the best teams in college football. Mauigoa plays a crucial role in keeping their trenches clear.
Mauigoa is a powerful lineman. He’s a great linear athlete with a squatty frame. He packs a powerful punch and a quick first step. He’s a bulldozer. A bully who loves to finish plays with a bang. Mauigoa is usually pancaking opponents during the echo of the whistle. Mauigoa is a determined run blocker who can create lanes for his running backs. As a pass blocker, Mauigoa isn’t as skilled. He struggles with pacing and timing his blocks when moving backwards. Mauigoa relies on his strong grip to stonewall pass rushers. Mauigoa must improve his footwork to succeed at the next level.
There are concerns about his agility when protecting the edge of the pocket. Many draft evaluators view Mauigoa as a candidate to move inside to guard. However, Mauigoa is playing some of his best football right now. He’ll have his biggest test of the season on Saturday when the Hurricanes take on their archrivals, the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles have a tremendous defensive line group led by defensive tackle draft prospect Darrell Jackson Jr. Scouts will have a great chance to observe how Mauigoa protects the pocket in the biggest game of his career.
Drew Allar is one of the most confounding prospects in the NFL draft. The former five-star quarterback and Ohio native enrolled at Penn State. Allar took over as the starter in his sophomore season and has shared in the team’s success. However, he hasn’t taken the leap fans hoped for earlier in his career. Allar is struggling to carve himself a place in the 2026 NFL draft. The senior quarterback has all the tools to be a star at the position. However, the three-year starter has yet to develop into a field general.
Allar is incredibly inconsistent with his technique and judgment. He’s shown remedial growth during his collegiate career. His eyes and feet are all over the place during a play. He’s never ready to rip a throw. Accuracy issues plague him. He has a great arm, but his feet are a mess, and he can spray the ball far from his target. Allar is a challenging prospect to evaluate. He’s big and powerful, but he has barely progressed mentally since his sophomore season. Front offices must decide whether they think Allar can develop in the NFL or if he’s maxed out mentally. The answer will tell us if he gets drafted on the first night or the third day. Allar’s draft profile isn’t written in stone, and a lot can change between October and January.
Finding a franchise quarterback can be a quixotic journey. There’s a point in the first round, where beggars must be choosers. It’s not safe to assume that drafting a quarterback in the first round means the quarterback is a first-round value. While draft analysts predicted the 2026 quarterback class would be great, it’s not flourishing the way many hoped for. If the Browns slip out of a top-three pick, they may miss their chance to draft a top quarterback prospect. The team may have to settle for a lesser prospect.
Antonio Williams is one of the most electric players in college football. The 6-foot receiver for the Clemson Tigers has battled injuries to start the season. However, the dynamic receiving threat has returned to the gridiron. The Tigers are quickly incorporating him back into the offense. Williams is a dynamic playmaker. He’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Clemson is creative when getting him the ball. It’s probably too late for Clemson to enjoy Williams’ talents this year. However, scouts will be watching Williams to ensure he remains competitive despite Clemson’s struggles this season.
Williams is a lightning-quick player who wins with his acceleration and speed. He’s a real wide receiver, not just a gadget player. Williams is a burner who can get in and out of his breaks easily. He excels as a route-runner. His small frame and shiftiness make him a hard target for cornerbacks to press at the line of scrimmage. Williams does well when the ball is in the air. He’s a good tracker with experience wrangling erratic throws. Williams must continue to improve his strength at the next level. The wide receiver is listed at 190 pounds, but he’ll need to add mass to compete at the highest levels in the NFL.
Williams is a fantastic receiving prospect. The redshirt junior has been an integral piece of Clemson’s offense. There are a lot of talented receivers in this upcoming draft class. The Browns could get lucky and steal a top prospect at the top of the second round. The Browns need to add more speed to their offense. Williams is definitely a player worth watching. The Tigers have a make-right game against North Carolina.
Micah Pettus is a gigantic offensive tackle. The 6-foot-7, 355-pound behemoth started his career at Ole Miss. The former three-star recruit started as a redshirt freshman for the Rebels for three years before transferring to Florida State. Pettus has had a resurgence with the Seminoles. Pettus has always had the tools and a nasty demeanor to flash high-end talent on a handful of plays a game. However, he has developed into a novice technician since joining the Seminoles.
Pettus has always used his monstrous size to his advantage. He welcomes defenders into his strike zone before throwing haymakers. If a defender gets too close to him, he likes to collapse on them, bringing both of them down. Pettus has a nasty streak, and he’s wont to join extracurricular activities after the whistle. The right tackle has become far more disciplined in Tallahassee. He still needs to do a better job of protecting the edge of the pocket. His feet work can get sloppy at the top of the arc, and he can be slow to react to counter moves.
Pettus is a tackle with some great physical tools. However, he must continue to improve his technique at the next level. Pettus has a big test against the Miami Hurricanes. The offensive tackle is going up against one of the best players in college football. Pass rusher Reuben Bain Jr. will be a tough matchup for Pettus. He has an excellent opportunity to wow scouts.
The Browns are in desperate need of offensive line help. The team is trying to find stopgap options until the cavalry can arrive in the offseason. The Browns should draft multiple offensive linemen during draft weekend. Ideally, the Browns would take one offensive lineman per day of the draft. The team’s starting unit is nearing the end of its time together. The organization must do everything it can to replace them.
Even if it means overdrafting linemen.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns draft hometown hero as the face of the franchise in latest mock
Continue reading...
To celebrate the start of October, I have devised a spooky mock draft that could show Browns fans their future if they miss on a top quarterback prospect. The team will likely need a top quarterback prospect regardless of how well the rookie quarterbacks play. But what could the Browns do if they find themselves out of the range for Fernando Mendoza, LaNorris Sellers, and Dante Moore, assuming those quarterbacks declare? In this mock draft, we find out what the non-top options at quarterback look like.
1.04 Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
You must be registered for see images attach
Francis Mauigoa is one of the best offensive linemen in the country. Mauigoa is a true junior from the Miami Hurricanes. The right tackle is a cumbersome 6-foot-6, 335-pounder. Maugua made a name for himself last year by keeping top draft pick Cam Ward upright all season. This year, Mauigoa is keeping quarterback Carson Beck safe. The Hurricanes are one of the best teams in college football. Mauigoa plays a crucial role in keeping their trenches clear.
Mauigoa is a powerful lineman. He’s a great linear athlete with a squatty frame. He packs a powerful punch and a quick first step. He’s a bulldozer. A bully who loves to finish plays with a bang. Mauigoa is usually pancaking opponents during the echo of the whistle. Mauigoa is a determined run blocker who can create lanes for his running backs. As a pass blocker, Mauigoa isn’t as skilled. He struggles with pacing and timing his blocks when moving backwards. Mauigoa relies on his strong grip to stonewall pass rushers. Mauigoa must improve his footwork to succeed at the next level.
There are concerns about his agility when protecting the edge of the pocket. Many draft evaluators view Mauigoa as a candidate to move inside to guard. However, Mauigoa is playing some of his best football right now. He’ll have his biggest test of the season on Saturday when the Hurricanes take on their archrivals, the Florida State Seminoles. The Seminoles have a tremendous defensive line group led by defensive tackle draft prospect Darrell Jackson Jr. Scouts will have a great chance to observe how Mauigoa protects the pocket in the biggest game of his career.
1.22 Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
You must be registered for see images attach
Drew Allar is one of the most confounding prospects in the NFL draft. The former five-star quarterback and Ohio native enrolled at Penn State. Allar took over as the starter in his sophomore season and has shared in the team’s success. However, he hasn’t taken the leap fans hoped for earlier in his career. Allar is struggling to carve himself a place in the 2026 NFL draft. The senior quarterback has all the tools to be a star at the position. However, the three-year starter has yet to develop into a field general.
Allar is incredibly inconsistent with his technique and judgment. He’s shown remedial growth during his collegiate career. His eyes and feet are all over the place during a play. He’s never ready to rip a throw. Accuracy issues plague him. He has a great arm, but his feet are a mess, and he can spray the ball far from his target. Allar is a challenging prospect to evaluate. He’s big and powerful, but he has barely progressed mentally since his sophomore season. Front offices must decide whether they think Allar can develop in the NFL or if he’s maxed out mentally. The answer will tell us if he gets drafted on the first night or the third day. Allar’s draft profile isn’t written in stone, and a lot can change between October and January.
Finding a franchise quarterback can be a quixotic journey. There’s a point in the first round, where beggars must be choosers. It’s not safe to assume that drafting a quarterback in the first round means the quarterback is a first-round value. While draft analysts predicted the 2026 quarterback class would be great, it’s not flourishing the way many hoped for. If the Browns slip out of a top-three pick, they may miss their chance to draft a top quarterback prospect. The team may have to settle for a lesser prospect.
2.36 Antonio Williams, WR, Clemson
You must be registered for see images attach
Antonio Williams is one of the most electric players in college football. The 6-foot receiver for the Clemson Tigers has battled injuries to start the season. However, the dynamic receiving threat has returned to the gridiron. The Tigers are quickly incorporating him back into the offense. Williams is a dynamic playmaker. He’s a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Clemson is creative when getting him the ball. It’s probably too late for Clemson to enjoy Williams’ talents this year. However, scouts will be watching Williams to ensure he remains competitive despite Clemson’s struggles this season.
Williams is a lightning-quick player who wins with his acceleration and speed. He’s a real wide receiver, not just a gadget player. Williams is a burner who can get in and out of his breaks easily. He excels as a route-runner. His small frame and shiftiness make him a hard target for cornerbacks to press at the line of scrimmage. Williams does well when the ball is in the air. He’s a good tracker with experience wrangling erratic throws. Williams must continue to improve his strength at the next level. The wide receiver is listed at 190 pounds, but he’ll need to add mass to compete at the highest levels in the NFL.
Williams is a fantastic receiving prospect. The redshirt junior has been an integral piece of Clemson’s offense. There are a lot of talented receivers in this upcoming draft class. The Browns could get lucky and steal a top prospect at the top of the second round. The Browns need to add more speed to their offense. Williams is definitely a player worth watching. The Tigers have a make-right game against North Carolina.
3.65 Micah Pettus, OT, Florida State
You must be registered for see images attach
Micah Pettus is a gigantic offensive tackle. The 6-foot-7, 355-pound behemoth started his career at Ole Miss. The former three-star recruit started as a redshirt freshman for the Rebels for three years before transferring to Florida State. Pettus has had a resurgence with the Seminoles. Pettus has always had the tools and a nasty demeanor to flash high-end talent on a handful of plays a game. However, he has developed into a novice technician since joining the Seminoles.
Pettus has always used his monstrous size to his advantage. He welcomes defenders into his strike zone before throwing haymakers. If a defender gets too close to him, he likes to collapse on them, bringing both of them down. Pettus has a nasty streak, and he’s wont to join extracurricular activities after the whistle. The right tackle has become far more disciplined in Tallahassee. He still needs to do a better job of protecting the edge of the pocket. His feet work can get sloppy at the top of the arc, and he can be slow to react to counter moves.
Pettus is a tackle with some great physical tools. However, he must continue to improve his technique at the next level. Pettus has a big test against the Miami Hurricanes. The offensive tackle is going up against one of the best players in college football. Pass rusher Reuben Bain Jr. will be a tough matchup for Pettus. He has an excellent opportunity to wow scouts.
The Browns are in desperate need of offensive line help. The team is trying to find stopgap options until the cavalry can arrive in the offseason. The Browns should draft multiple offensive linemen during draft weekend. Ideally, the Browns would take one offensive lineman per day of the draft. The team’s starting unit is nearing the end of its time together. The organization must do everything it can to replace them.
Even if it means overdrafting linemen.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns draft hometown hero as the face of the franchise in latest mock
Continue reading...
