The fastest way for the Cleveland Browns to move out of the AFC North basemen is to draft well. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., general manager Andrew Berry and the Browns did just that in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kiper completed his final draft grades for 2026 early Sunday morning. The Browns were one of just four teams to receive an A.
The ESPN analyst loved that the Browns addressed their two biggest weaknesses in the first round — offensive tackle and wide receiver. Kiper also liked the team doubled down on those positions with Day 2 selections as well.
At receiver, the Browns nabbed KC Concepcion at No. 24 overall and Denzel Boston at No. 39.
“The Browns landed two of my top eight guys in the class,” wrote Kiper. “I have concerns about KC Concepcion’s drop issues (seven last season), but he has a nose for the end zone (25 career TDs) and averaged 15.1 yards per catch last season. I said Denzel Boston would have been the right pick in Round 1 … and Cleveland got him in Round 2.
“Even though I would have flipped these two players value-wise, the Browns ended up with two really talented pass catchers. That’s critical.”
In addition to two receivers and tackles, the Browns grabbed in-state safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren on Day 2. A lot of pundits projected the Toledo safety to be a first-round pick.
“Just sheer value — my No. 33 prospect at No. 58,” wrote Kiper. “Take him out of Toledo and put him in a Power 4 uniform and maybe he goes a little earlier.
“But I’m not worried about the quality of competition. He flies to the football and generates turnovers (10 forced fumbles, five interceptions).”
Browns Get A Grade in 2026 NFL Draft From ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
Concepcion and Boston should give Cleveland a much better chance of having a strong passing game in 2026. That’s critical since the Browns have several quarterbacks they are trying to develop.
As a rookie last season, Shedeur Sanders showed some flashes, and did that without much help from pass-catchers. The Browns only had two players with more than 350 receiving yards in 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin led the team with 731 receiving yards. Jerry Jeudy led all Browns wideouts with 602 yards.
Concepcion and Boston will join Jeudy as the offense’s top receivers.
Along the offensive line, the Browns could have a new left tackle in No. 9 overall pick Spencer Fano. Third-round tackle Austin Barber might contribute immediately too.
“The Spencer Fano and Austin Barber picks could be the final touches on a complete offensive line rebuild this offseason,” wrote Kiper. “The Browns had 14 different offensive line combinations play at least 10 snaps last season, third most in the NFL.”
The Browns finished the 2026 NFL Draft with five selections on Day 2. Most notably, the team added Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green in the sixth round.
Green is a raw talent that will give the Browns a fourth quarterback this offseason.
Andrew Berry Stacks 2nd Straight Strong Draft Class
The Browns have accumulated draft capital over recent years in the hopes of building a strong, young nucleus. According to Kiper, that might finally be happening in Cleveland.
“The Browns received an A-plus from me last year, and the class lived up to expectations,” wrote Kiper. Carson Schwesinger was Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr. were the main catalysts of the offense, but all seven picks chipped in at some point during Year 1.
Kiper wouldn’t say with certainty if the 2026 class will have the same impact for the Browns. But, the ESPN analyst sees some of the team’s newest prospects having Week 1 roles.
The only other team in the AFC that Kiper awarded an A grade for the 2026 NFL Draft was the Las Vegas Raiders. The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles also received A grades from the ESPN draft analyst.
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