2026 Deep Dive Mock Draft 3.0: One Final Ride

With draft day here you get one final Browns mock draft.

(Photo - Getty Images)

We made it. It’s been a long journey since the end of that ugly 2025 season back in early January but we’re finally here. Coaching changes, free agency, and plenty more have occupied our time but the long draft wait ends today. The Browns are at the constant forefront of chatter this cycle with their preferred trade back approach but they will have some tough choices to make at No. 6 overall as plenty of talent will be there. The question will be who is calling and will the Browns have the value there to make a move.

For this final mock, we made that trade. The Chiefs came calling and we went back and forth with them one some ideas that made sense for both sides. In the end, they got desperate and we took advantage.

Before we get started, I want to remind you how I do these deep dives. I don’t like ignoring simulators because then I am just picking whoever I want in perceived slots but I also don’t want to be held down by those same simulators when I can’t always make trades or react in real-time the way I would like. So, my working process here is using PFF’s mock draft tool and then slotting up to five picks before the pick I am making to grab a prospect. It keeps ranges fair but also lets me share with you who fits best inside that range.

Let’s wrap up the 2026 draft cycle with one last deep dive mock draft. Enjoy!

---

Trade

Browns receive R1: 9, R2: 40, R5: 169

Chiefs receive R1: 6, R4: 107

The worst secret of the draft is that the Browns would like to move down. For this example we slide down to 9 with the Chiefs who come up for Jordyn Tyson. The value works. The picks you come away with do a lot more for this roster than staying at six and taking one player ever could. This is the right call.

---

Pick No. 9 (From KC): (JR) Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

CFB Production: 1,667 snaps, 81.6 Pass Blocking Grade, 61.7 Run Blocking Grade, 2 sacks allowed, 8 pressures

Age: 21.6

Role: Future Starting Left Tackle

Notes: In this mock, Tate went to the Giants at 5 so it became more clear that tackle is the most logical choice. Freeling has been the vibe for me all along and I don’t think I feel inclined to change that now. Fano is a great prospect and one I would be fine with but I do not think he fits what new offensive line coach George Warhop prefers. Freeling is full of all the tools you need to be a long-term left tackle answer in the NFL. He is technically sound in his pass sets, plays with good pad level, and has the length you need to handle speed-to-power rushers at the NFL level. The run game utility is there too — he’s far from a finished product in this phase but he’s shown more just a finesse/positioning blocking tackle, he gets after it at the point of attack and started to move people by the end of the year. This is a swing at upside knowing some risk is attached but ultimately Freeling fills the bucket for the pick here at 9.

Others Considered: Jordyn Tyson, Spencer Fano, Caleb Downs