Browns Select BYU Tight End Carsen Ryan 248th Overall
The final pick of the Browns' 2026 NFL Draft is a versatile piece the offense needed.
The Cleveland Browns made their final selection of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 248th overall pick, choosing BYU tight end Carsen Ryan — an Orem, Utah native who the Browns see as a chess piece who will give them true blocking utility that is badly needed but his upside is the appeal.
Ryan’s path to the NFL was anything but a straight line. He was a dependable, well-rounded tight end who had a breakout season at BYU after being an adequate second tight end at Utah and UCLA to start his college career. When he finally got his shot as a full-time starter with the Cougars, he made the most of it. Ryan finished with 45 catches for 620 yards and three touchdowns, and was named an All-Big 12 honorable mention tight end.
His coming-out party arrived on the biggest stage available to him. He caught eight passes for 120 yards in the bowl game, pushing his season totals over the top and drawing significant attention from the NFL. He was a sleeper until late in the process. You have to picture the Browns using him as a Y-TE and Fullback hybrid that will fit inside run-heavy packages with deception capability baked in.
Ryan is an every-down worker. He offers utility with the ability to contribute as a blocker, underneath receiver, and situational pass protector, supported by strong route IQ, soft hands, and efficient production. His blocking is a particular calling card — he ran a 4.66 in the 40 at BYU’s pro day and put up 23 reps on the bench press, answering any questions about his strength.
His BYU tight ends coach, a former NFL tight ends coach himself, put it simply. “Certain things would have to happen for him to make a 53-man roster, but if he does, he could be an 8-10 year NFL vet,” said Kevin Gilbride. “The guys who did everything the right way and executed at a high level — that’s what teams are going to get with Ryan.”
For a Browns team that already boasts emerging star Harold Fannin Jr. at tight end and spent a 5th-round pick on Cincinnati’s Joe Royer, Ryan slides in as a complementary piece — a reliable, tough-as-nails blocker, and a piece the tight end room really needed. It’s a fitting final pick for a Browns draft class built on character, versatility, and football intelligence from top to bottom — and plenty of talent selected on offense.
Browns Film Breakdown will have full breakdown of this pick in the coming week.
