ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 NFL Draft at a defining inflection point. Years of patchwork solutions, short-term bets, and offensive uncertainty have collided with the reality of a roster that is elite on one side of the ball and painfully unreliable on the other. Now, Kevin Stefanski is gone, and a new era begins. As such, this draft is less about tinkering and more about resetting the franchise’s trajectory. According to the PFF mock draft simulator, Cleveland doesn’t hesitate and goes all-in on fixing the offense. It all starts at the most important position in sports.
Cleveland closed the 2025 NFL season with a 5-12 record. They missed the playoffs and ultimately parted ways with Stefanski. From the outside, the story looked familiar: strong defensive performances wasted by an offense that couldn’t stay healthy, consistent, or efficient. Injuries along the offensive line, instability under center, and a passing attack that lacked explosiveness doomed Cleveland early, long before the playoff picture clarified.
The major saving grace was Myles Garrett. Garrett authored a historic campaign. It all culminated in a 23-sack season that broke the NFL’s single-season sack record in Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals. That was a franchise-defining achievement, but also a sobering one. The Browns wasted one of the greatest defensive seasons in league history. That reality loomed large as Cleveland now pivots toward the draft.
No matter who takes over as head coach, Cleveland’s priorities are clear. The Browns must rebuild the offense from the inside out. Wide receiver is near the top of the list, with Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman facing constant inconsistency. Cleveland lacks a true difference-maker who can dictate coverage, win after the catch, and consistently tilt defensive game plans. Of course, if any of the elite QB prospects are still available by the sixth pick, the Browns would do well to draft one, too.
The offensive line is the next pressure point. Injuries exposed a lack of versatility and depth, particularly on the interior. A lineman capable of playing guard immediately, with the flexibility to kick outside if needed, would stabilize protection. It could also unlock more schematic freedom. Yes, the defense remains elite. That said, adding depth at defensive tackle later in the draft would help preserve Garrett’s impact over a long season.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Browns’ 3-round mock draft based on the PFF 2026 NFL mock draft simulator.
At sixth overall, Cleveland swings for a franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza. It’s a bet rooted in both production and projection. As imprpobable as this may sound, it’s plausible, given the PFF mock draft simulator. This is especially true if the Raiders choose Dante Moore and the Jets go defense. Mendoza obviously checks every box teams look for when making a long-term investment. He has size, arm talent, processing speed, accuracy, and competitiveness. He is not a traits-only gamble. Mendoza is...
