The Cleveland Browns are rolling through the first two days of the NFL draft, as general manager Andrew Berry is following up arguably the best class in the league last year with another top group of picks in 2026.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network summed up Cleveland’s first two rounds by billing Berry and company as thieves in the night robbing their opponents left and right.
“I think the Cleveland Browns are crushing this draft,” Jeremiah said Friday night after the completion of Round 2, per Kimberly A. Martin of ESPN. “This is stealing in my opinion.”
Jeremiah’s comments came after Cleveland landed wide receiver Denzel Boston out of Washington with pick No. 39 and safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren out of Toledo with the 58th overall selection.
Browns Got Excellent Value on 2nd-Round Picks Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Denzel Boston
GettyCleveland Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Both McNeil-Warren and Boston had 1st/2nd-round grades from Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, and several analysts mocked each to teams as early as the late-teens and early-to-mid 20s in Round 1 leading up to the draft.
McNeil-Warren was the No. 3 safety on Brugler’s big board and the No. 23 overall prospect according to “The Beast.”
“McNeil-Warren is an impressive size/speed athlete on the back end, who is at his best when roaming to read his keys, flow to the ball and quickly close space,” Brugler wrote. “He has the rangy tools to push for starting safety reps as an NFL rookie.”
Boston was the 26th-ranked player on Brugler’s big board, regardless of position, and slotted in as the No. 6 receiver.
Zierlein compared Boston to Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams, a first-team All-Pro selection who led the league in receptions with 129 of them in 2025.
“Boston gets off the line with good burst and maintains his top speed throughout the route,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft analysis. “He’s very skilled when it comes to winning jump balls and contested throws. Boston also knows how to win in the red zone. Acclimating to NFL competition could take a year, but Boston has the makeup to become a productive possession target with above-average red-zone value.”
Browns Made Stellar Trade With Chiefs Inside Top 10, Came Away With Spencer Fano, 2 More Picks and Major Savings
GettyCleveland Browns offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
Cleveland also had a stellar first round, acquiring wide receiver KC Concepcion out of Texas A&M with the No. 24 pick after selecting the first offensive lineman off the board in Utah tackle Spencer Fano at No. 9 overall.
The Browns moved out of the No. 6 spot via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, dropping just three picks and acquiring a third-rounder and a fifth-round selection in return. Cleveland then selected Fano, who would have likely been their pick at No. 6 regardless and saved approximately $10 million in the process via his rookie contract.
“#Browns save $9,845,638 and gain 74th and 148th pick for a player they would have likely selected at six,” Jack Duffin of The Orange and Brown Report posted to X.
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