The Official 2026 NFL Draft Thread

[gumby73]

Why are we still stressing the LT position?

Tytus Howard

Browns

30

$45,000,000

$22,500,000

$34,500,000

$34,500,000

2029 Void

In a pinch..

We paid Tytus Howard like a LT...

Second.. Tytus Howard has played both Tackle spots..

I Like how The GM & Coaches have not been focused on "Your playing here" yet ! 

Instead we have Appolo throwing pieces on a building table.. 

If we need a Center? We now have 3 that have played it !

Let this plan play out ! 

[Bob806]

@gumby73 said:

enough ammo to move into 4th round

• Round 5, Pick No.146 
• Round 5, Pick No. 148 (from KC): 
• Round 5, Pick No. 149:(from Cinn.)
•  Round 5, Pick No. 152 (from 49'ers):
• Round 7, Pick No. 248:
• Round 4  2027  NYG

Hopefully nail a few of these picks, might get lucky on a starter but mostly depth & special teams guys

[Dutch Oven]

@bob806 said:

Hopefully nail a few of these picks, might get lucky on a starter but mostly depth & special teams guys

I'd like a linebacker somewhere in there, and perhaps a center if one falls down there (or they trade up and get one). 

Pretty much BPA from here out. 

[gumby73]

@bob806 said:

Hopefully nail a few of these picks, might get lucky on a starter but mostly depth & special teams guys

out of likes already

 ?so I owe you a beer at noon ? Go Browns !

[Dutch Oven]

@gumby73 said:

out of likes already

 ?so I owe you a beer at noon ? Go Browns !

What's gumby's beer of choice?

[Flugel]

@dutch-oven said:

I agree with ballpeen, I think Barber probably is being looked at as a guard.

I think the Browns think Fano is a guy versatile enough to play almost anywhere on the OLine, and at worst he isn't great as a LT but can move somewhere else if needed and thrive, and if that happens they find a LT in the future, a la what is happening now in New England with Will Campbell. It's not optimal I admit, taking a guy in the top 10 who ends up being your starting RT/OG.... but they feel confident he will be a very good OLineman somewhere on the OLine. I think the Browns feel he can be a good LT though, I don't think this is a shot in the dark, but he gives them obvious options. He's not a "Boom or Bust" guy. One way or another, we got ourselves a good starter, but where is to be decided. 

I don't think it's going to happen honestly, but if - and I can't stress the word IF enough - Sanders develops into an above average starting QB, well the fate of our franchise would change dramatically for the positive. You could go into next year's draft not needing to go balls out for a QB at the top of the first, the world would be the Browns oyster. 

That's fine if you agree with Ballpeen that he's being looked at as an OG because it's also been mentioned by various media guys like Field Yates (who did numerous mock drafts with Mel Kiper recently).  I like some of your points. But as far as LT, Barber is trending in the direction of more recently used/needed as a starter at LT while Fano last played it in the 2023 season.  Do teams really trade multiple picks for plans only to fill an OG spot in round 3?  Again, remember why Fano snapped the ball at the Combines in the drills some of the Browns' Offensive staff were running.  That doesn't sound to me like sold on LT for Fano (and you did allude to that with his flexibility); especially when Fano's last team wasn't sold on that either. I like this move regardless of where the Browns use him though because his arms are only an inch or 2 longer than Fano's at 33 1/8" long. Anyway, here's some cut and pastes about what went down and specifics as to Barber's history with Florida and what triggered the move to get him:

Cleveland parted with multiple picks to trade up and land the Florida offensive lineman.

"We really liked him from the jump," Browns coach Todd Monken said. "You don't know how it's going to go. There are certain players that are picked higher than you would have thought, and there's others that are a little bit lower. Certainly, we knew we had to address the offensive line. And so, as he was still up on the board, I think the opportunity to move back and then as it continued then – let's not wait any longer. Let's go up and get him and we're fired up to get him."

Barber spent his collegiate career at Florida, appearing in 50 career games. He started 39 games, including 34 at left tackle and five at right tackle. Barber redshirted in 2021, appearing in just three games. He then became the starting left tackle for three-and-a-half years, starting all 25 games across his junior and senior seasons and earned All-SEC honors.

[gumby73]

@dutch-oven said:

What's gumby's beer of choice?

That would be the late great Jimmy Buffett "Landshark's"

only 8 sharks remaining in fridge.. Fin's Up ! 

Sorry! Not Sorry ! Can't get enough of this kid !  (here,when ya need it)

Flocks Renecade

[Orion]

@gator said:

Not to speak too soon, but are these how AB's drafts look when DePo is not involved?

I was going to go into that somewhere.  Once DePo became irrelevant to the organization, all of a sudden the draft picks improved.  Last year only Stef's QB pick was a lousy pick.   I hope it's a fact that we're improved by subtraction.  -  Good point Gator.

[tiamat63]

@dutch-oven said:

The Barber selection is the one pick I'm scratching my head about. 

 Both are head scratchers to me, Fano & Barber.

 The 1st, for obvious reasons.  The 2nd, because coach Monk has already said he envisions Barber as a LT.  That's what you just drafted Fano for.  But also because C.M. said he has the "versatility" (there's that word again) to slide inside to guard.  

 There are FAR too many assumptions being made here, most alarmingly by the professionals.  Something I've spoken about for a handful of years - the transition from LT/RT isn't easy, and the move inside to guard is no where near as seamless and simple as it's being made by anyone.   Especially for a tall OT that doesn't have the most elite natural pad level and knee bend.   I've been in more than a few fights in my life. Despite some of the wins, I can tell you they all sucked and all but 2 were regrettable and silly.   But the one thing you check for in any fight is cauliflower ear.  Why? Wrestlers will FUCK YOU UP.  

 Same thing applies to the IOL.  You're going to face, on average anyway, more compact, explosive and stronger defenders that have a natural center of gravity tall IOL cannot match.   Same reason wrestlers tend to make quality fighters against larger dudes.  They'll get into your chest, neutralize your wingspan advantage and pummel you into the hospital.

 Just penciling in Barber if the OT experiment goes sideways (which I expect) is poor strategy and risk management. 

@dutch-oven said:

I was kind of 'eh' about Concepcion - 

I said this on my twitter feed.  I'm willing to give KC something I was not going to give Corey Coleman - the benefit of the doubt.  

[tiamat63]

I'll be on discord today, streaming and watching the draft, for anyone who wants to join - you're all more than welcomed.

Getting some early morning film and snap charting done on Austin Barber now, for those who want to jump in ahead of time.

https://discord.gg/T9ffPZk93

[SdBacker80]

yeah the OLine picks hope I’m wrong less than thrilled about them.  I hate taking the fat guys early in the draft and passing on dynamic playmakers I hope we aren’t back here next year. 

I would have gone Bowry from BC over Barber at that point. 

Conner Lew (still available) coming off an ACL you could give him a redshirt year. 
 

I’d like a corner soon Charles Demmings SFA looks the part 

LB too Jimmy Rolder Michigan 

[Ibleedbrown]

@dutch-oven said:

So I was talking up Will Kacmarak from Ohio State as a good in-line TE complement to Harold Fannin and put him in my mock draft (I think in the 6th round?) kind of thinking it might be somewhat of a homer pick. Good blocking, limited athletic/receiving TEs are good candidates to become priority free agents...

Imagine my surprise when he was drafted last night in the 3rd round!

Nowakowski from IU would fit this role well. I don’t totally know if Monken will be like Stefanski in the same way, but Stef liked having an H-back type guy to do fullbacky and Tight Endy things in certain packages, especially near the goal line. That’s basically the role Nowakowski filled at IU, a Swiss army blocking guy who actually has pretty good hands.

[Bob806]

@gumby73 said:

out of likes already

 ?so I owe you a beer at noon ? Go Browns !

I'm out in Reno, NV bowling the USBC National. Browns getting surprising love from the fans at the sports books.

Bet the over 6.5 wins. Slam dunk?

[gumby73]

Atta Boy BoB!  ? Beat them sportsbooks !

[syd]

@axe said:

As a Gator guy I watched Barber get absolutely embarrassed by Ruebin Bain Jr so excuse me if I'm not thrilled with this pick

I do not follow florida football or any football in that part of the country (much) But looking at the gators schedule for the past 2 years it looks like they played against some good competition ? so as a starter he cant suck all that much

[SdBacker80]

@bob806 said:

I'm out in Reno, NV bowling the USBC National. Browns getting surprising love from the fans at the sports books.

Bet the over 6.5 wins. Slam dunk?

This is a pretty sharp line.  Without seeing your ticket I was thinking 6-7 wins.  We will have new coach energy, we still have our D, the new oline will struggle to work together and who knows about the QB position.  So yeah 6-7 wins seems like the outcome 

[TexasAg1969]

@gumby73 said:

wanted to hit here yesterday, but lost this post..

The Browns also own the Texans 2027 5th and 7th Round picks. 

How did we acquire them?

[Bob806]

@sdbacker80 said:

This is a pretty sharp line.  Without seeing your ticket I was thinking 6-7 wins.  We will have new coach energy, we still have our D, the new oline will struggle to work together and who knows about the QB position.  So yeah 6-7 wins seems like the outcome 

Yep. Cautious optimism, but perhaps they're building a good young core.

[Dutch Oven]

@bob806 said:

I'm out in Reno, NV bowling the USBC National. Browns getting surprising love from the fans at the sports books.

Bet the over 6.5 wins. Slam dunk?

Nice!

[Dutch Oven]

CB Jerrod McCoy comes off the board