It’s draft day. The real thing, not that atrocious Kevin Costner film.
This is the 13th and final version of the Browns’ seven-round mock draft by the Beacon Journal. The first version started innocently enough before they had even hired Todd Monken to be their head coach.
There’s no more guessing, no more projecting after this one. This is the one that stands as the final projection.
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For most of the previous 13 mocks, we’re using the Pro Football Focus simulator. This time, we’ll be using ESPN.com’s mock draft simulator.
Round No. 1, overall pick No. 6: Trade with Dallas Cowboys
Previous mock draft: Trade this and No. 39 with the Dallas Cowboys for Nos. 12 and 20, plus day-three 2027 pick swap. Took Georgia OT Monroe Freeling and Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq with 12 and 20.
This is an even easier deal in that it’s all confined to the 2026 draft. The Browns get Nos. 12 and 20 from the Cowboys, while Dallas gets Nos. 6 and, in the second round, 39. The Cowboys take Miami (Fla.) defensive end Reuben Bain.
Round No. 1, overall pick No. 12: Makai Lemon, WR, USC
Previous mock draft: Acquired from Cowboys; selected Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
It’s awfully tempting to take Monroe Freeling here. However, Lemon was the top player on the board, and a player who was a personal No. 1 at wide receiver. There’s still time to get a quality tackle.
Round No. 1, overall pick No. 20: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Previous mock draft: Acquired from Cowboys; selected Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
How about that? It pays off that, thanks to the trade back, both wide receiver and tackle are filled by players who absolutely fit a mold the Browns would be looking for in a potential pick. And there’s still a first-round pick to play with to fill any number of needs.
Round No. 1, overall pick No. 24 (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Previous mock draft: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
There were a lot of ways this could’ve gone. There was a solid cornerback (Avieon Terrell), plus others (Denzel Boston, Caleb Lomu) on the board. But adding young, incredibly high edge rush help to complement — emphasis on COMPLEMENT — Myles Garrett was too much to pass up. Faulk is absolutely the kind of player who could grow into that within the Browns aggressive scheme.
Round No. 3, overall pick No. 70: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville
Previous mock draft: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The three first-round picks have allowed for a little bit of a draft-and-stash strategy here with Bell, the very talented Louisville wide receiver who’s coming off a November anterior cruciate ligament tear. But that’s OK, because with Lemon already in the fold, this can almost be a redshirt year for Bell to rehab and adjust to life in the NFL.
Round No. 4, overall pick No. 107: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Previous mock draft: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State
Beck was the best quarterback available to open Day 3. Monken’s familiarity with him going all the way back to when his son played baseball with Beck while they were in Jacksonville as young kids is playing into this selection. There’s absolutely talented. If Beck can figure out the turnover problem, this could be a steal.
Round No. 4, overall pick No. 138 (Draft-day trade with San Francisco 49ers): Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame
Previous mock draft: N/A
Instead of making a pair of fifth-round picks, decided to trade back up into the fourth round with a team near the back end of the fourth round that had multiple picks. The San Francisco 49ers were picking at both 138 and 139, so sent them both fifth-round picks (Nos. 146 and 149), while we swapped 2027 day-three picks. With the pick, the Browns bolster the tight end position with one of the better project tight ends in the draft. Notre Dame tight ends have a track record of success in the NFL. Why not get in on the action?
Round No. 6, overall pick No. 206 (from Chicago Bears): Pat Coogan, C, Indiana
Previous mock draft: Eli Heidenreich, FB, Navy
The sixth round is where you look to find special teamers and depth pieces. Coogan fits that bill as a potential interior backup at either center or guard. There’s obvious flaws, but if there weren’t, he wouldn’t be available here.
Round No. 7, overall pick No. 248 (from Seattle Seahawks): Barion Brown, WR, LSU
Previous mock draft: Deven Eastern, DT, Minnesota
Much like the sixth round, the seventh round is also where you look to find special teamers and depth pieces. Brown is someone who could absolutely help the return game, as that’s where he was consistently an All-SEC-level performer thanks to six career kickoff returns for touchdowns. Sounds like a piece the Browns could use.
Previous Browns mock drafts
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Final Cleveland Browns 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft as draft day arrives
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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