As the Cleveland Browns continue to prepare for the 2026-27 NFL season, general manager Andrew Berry will look to build off his success from free agency into the 2026 NFL Draft.
The front office did an excellent job of rebuilding the offensive line thus far by trading for Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard, while also signing guards Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins. Now, the only spot that must be addressed on the offensive line will be the left tackle position, which will likely be a primary target for the
While there is plenty of debate as to how the Browns could tackle the need in the draft, Utah star lineman Spencer Fano generated a ton of hype following his strong performance at the 2026 NFL Combine. This, paired with his impressive tape from the 2025 college football season, has caught the attention of many NFL teams. According to NFL insider Tony Pauline, Cleveland could select the young talent and have him play left tackle.
“Fano completed 30 reps on the bench, then did position drills and looked terrific,” Pauline wrote in his most recent article. “The Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers had offensive line coaches on hand. Now for the interesting part: the Panthers and the Cleveland Browns both believe Fano can line up at left tackle on Sundays. That opinion and his arm length could make Fano a top-10 pick.”
Could Fano Be The Answer For Cleveland?
Fano, throughout his time with the Utes, proved to be one of the best offensive tackles in college football. In 2024, the rising star allowed just one sack on 424 pass blocking snaps, while also posting a PFF-best 92.6 offensive grade. With tons of hype under his belt heading into this past season, Fano lived up to the high expectations, as he did not allow a single sack during the 2025 season.
Clearly, Fano will be one of the top offensive tackles selected in this year’s draft, but the main question surrounding the former Utah standout will be whether or not he will be able to transition to the left tackle position in the NFL. Fano has experience playing left tackle in college, as he played 542 snaps at the position in 2023. However, the highly regarded prospect had his worst college season playing left tackle, resulting in his transition to the other side of the offensive line.
The Browns have, unfortunately, made the mistake of taking a right tackle in round one and have tried to move him to the opposite side in the NFL with Jedrick Wills Jr. back in 2020. This did not work out in favor of the struggling franchise, and the success rate of rookie right tackles that shifted to the left side across the league has been underwhelming over the past decade.
If Cleveland wants to find their starting left tackle for the foreseeable future in the upcoming draft, players such as Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Fano’s fellow teammate Caleb Lomu would be much-better suited to take on the role in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: NFL insider reveals Browns potential plan in 2026 NFL Draft
Reporting by Dylan Feltovich, Browns Wire / Browns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
