Perfect Picks 2026: Cleveland Browns
By Bill Sparks
The 2025 Cleveland Browns season was nothing short of an offensive nightmare, defined by inconsistency at quarterback, injuries to an already shallow roster, and a team that never truly found its footing.
Defensively, Myles Garrett delivered a historic season, breaking the single-season sack record and reminding everyone of his generational impact.
Yet even with that defensive brilliance, the Cleveland Browns still feel far from playoff contention, as they continue to handle the fallout from the failed Deshaun Watson trade.
This Perfect Picks article explores what an ideal draft could look like if the board breaks the right way. Rather than predicting draft weekend outcomes, the focus is on fit, value, and long-term roster construction, identifying prospects who align with the team’s needs at each stage of the draft.
The selections below account for scheme, roster holes, and realistic draft ranges, moving from early-round building blocks to mid-round value and late-round upside.
Round 1 - Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami)
The Cleveland Browns’ selection of Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa would be a clear investment in stabilizing the right side of the offensive line and setting a physical tone up front for 60 minutes.
Mauigoa brings prototypical size (6’6” 335 lbs), freakish power, and a nasty demeanor in the run game, where he consistently moves defenders off their spot with ease.
His pass protection flashes occasional dominance as well, using strong hands and a wide base to anchor against more powerful edge rushers.
However, Mauigoa is not without questions. Quicker, twitchier edge rushers can stress his foot speed, leaving questions for some on whether he’s able to stay on the outside at the NFL level.
Despite that, his athletic profile and size should allow Mauigoa to project as a long-term starter at right tackle whose physicality aligns perfectly with what Cleveland should aspire to be offensively.
Round 1 - Chris Brazzell (WR, Tennessee)
The Cleveland Browns selecting Chris Brazzell II would add a different dimension to the wide receiver room, banking on athletic upside rather than recent Tennessee history.
Recent Vols receivers like Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman haven’t translated cleanly to the NFL, but Brazzell II profiles as a different type of prospect.
He brings legitimate size (6’5”, 200 lbs) and speed, giving Cleveland a boundary target who can win vertically consistently.
Brazzell II’s route tree is more advanced than his predecessors, showing the ability to sink his hips and separate on intermediate patterns and not just run go routes.
He tracks the ball well downfield and flashes strong hands in contested situations.
The concerns lie in his overall consistency, as he can drift through routes, suffer occasional concentration drops, and still needs refinement against more physical coverage.
Even so, his physical profile and skill set suggest a higher ceiling and a clearer NFL translation than recent Tennessee wideouts.
Mid Round Gem - Tyreek Chappell (CB, Texas A&M)
Tyreek Chappell would give the Cleveland Browns a chess piece in the secondary, with his ability to thrive in the nickel role, which should unlock some much-needed flexibility across the Cleveland secondary.
Lining up next to Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, Chappell allows Cleveland to match speed with speed, all while keeping its best coverage players on the field.
His fluid hips and short-area burst make him a natural fit to handle slot receivers with little concern, but larger targets could take advantage of his smaller frame (5’11”, 185 lbs.)
While he’ll need to continue refining his eye discipline and his tackling needs some added refinement, Chappell projects as a tone-setter in the nickel who can amplify the impact of the Cleveland defense.
Late Round Sleeper - Chip Trayanum (RB, Toledo)
Chip Trayanum is a stud of a running back who can bring some serious power to the Cleveland Browns’ backfield.
A powerful, compact runner with a surprising burst at 5’11”, 227 lbs., Trayanum runs behind his pads and consistently finishes through contact.
His background as a converted linebacker shows up in his physicality and willingness to attack defenders, making him a natural fit for short-yardage and downhill concepts.
What elevates Trayanum beyond a typical late-round running back is his versatility and functional athleticism.
He has enough speed to stress defenses on the edge and flashes value as a pass protector, an area that often keeps late-round backs on the roster.
While his vision and patience can be inconsistent, Trayanum’s toughness, effort, and developmental upside give him a real chance to carve out a role on this Cleveland Roster, especially with Quinshon Judkins’ health in question heading into 2026.
Draft in full
6 (R1) – Francis Mauigoa (OT, Miami)
28 (R1) – Chris Brazzell (WR, Tennessee)
39 (R2) – Chase Bisontis (IOL, Texas A&M)
70 (R3) – Monroe Freeling (OT, Georgia)
107 (R4) – Zachariah Branch (WR, Georgia)
139 (R5) – Bishop Fitzgerald (S, USC)
144 (R5) – Tyreek Chappell (CB, Texas A&M)
147 (R5) – Tanner Koziol (TE, Houston)
205 (R6) – Chip Trayanum (RB, Toledo)
248 (R7) – Jack Pyburn (EDGE, LSU)
Bill Sparks
Guest Contributor
Bill Sparks has been a diehard Cleveland Browns fan since 2007, channeling his fanatical obsession into smarter football analysis.
He’s covered the NFL Draft since 2015 and worked for outlets like TWSN, Draft Professor, and The Barking Browns since 2024.
He now runs SparkScouting: NFL Comp King on Substack while sharing NFL Draft comps and insight on X at @SparkScouting.