The 2026 NFL Draft is on Thursday night, and the Cleveland Browns contain two picks in the first round. Many insiders and mock drafts have shown the Browns drafting a receiver with at least one of the two first-round picks. In Matt Miller and Jeremy Fowler’s latest ESPN Mock Draft, they believe the Browns will take the best offensive tackle available first, and then settle with one of the five first-round grade receivers with the 24th pick.
In this mock, the Browns take offensive tackle from Miami, Francis Mauigoa, with the 6th pick in the first round. With the 24th pick, the Browns take Washington receiver Denzel Boston.
“The Browns will be nervously watching and hoping a receiver run doesn’t wipe out the board prior to this pick. If that happens, I believe they’d target McNeil-Warren at safety. But in this mock, they’re able to stand pat and pick the big-bodied Boston. Cleveland generally tips its hand with its predraft visits, so it’s notable that Boston has visited. Leaving the first night of the draft with a starting tackle and a playmaking wide receiver would be another win for GM Andrew Berry after a home run 2025 draft.”
Fowler’s intel: “If Cooper falls, this could be his floor. He is on the Browns’ radar and is considered a clean fit in new coach Todd Monken’s offense due to his run-after-catch prowess.”
Fowler believes that Omar Cooper Jr, who just won a national championship with Indiana, could fall to 24 as well. If they had to choose between the two, it is believed that Cooper Jr. would be taken instead of Boston, according to Fowler.
In a recent mock draft, the Los Angeles Rams were predicted to trade with the Browns for the 6th pick, taking Carnell Tate. Anything can happen on Thursday night.
The 2026 NFL Draft is on Thursday night, and the Cleveland Browns contain two picks in the first round. Many insiders and mock drafts have shown the Browns drafting a receiver with at least one of the two first-round picks.
