DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk NFL Draft 2026 Predictions

Figure we are close enough to make our own predictions.

I am going to say we trade down. KC, Dallas, TB or Detroit.

With the first pick traded down - we take Fano. * edit - contingency if Fano has gone - Freeling or Mauigoa - I don't think 3 OT will be gone by the mid teens.

At 24 I think a lot depends on the WR taken - but I am going to say Concepcion. If there's been a deep run of WR gone - then McNeil-Warren.

At 39 - if we took a WR already at 24 - then maybe Ponds. If we took didn't take a WR or receiving TE then Bernard.

Figure you have to have a couple of contingencies in there because maybe the guy who is supposed to be there has gone ...

No trades allowed scenario:

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Love
4. Bailey
5. Styles
6. Tyson/Tate
7. Tate/Tyson
8. Mansoor
9. Bain
10. Mauigoa

This is most likely to change in an hour or so.

Yep ! I think it's that time of the pre-draft, it will change every hour from now till Thursday night.

No Trades ....

#6 - Downs.
#24 - Cooper or Concepcion.

Or more flip it and @6 Tate. @24 McNeil-Warren.

Wow, I have a lot of opinions, but predicting this draft is next to impossible.

I'll throw a dart... pretty sure I'll get #1 overall right, then more than likely won't have any of the top ten correct 2-10

1. Mendoza
2. Reese
3. Mauigoa
4. Love
5. Downs
6. Tate
7. Styles
8. Mansoor
9. Bailey
10. Bain

I could see a world where the Chiefs move up to #3 with the Cards... pick wouldn't change by the way.

I am going to say there will be a draft. The Browns will draft players. Folks will witch and moan like spoiled brats and claim they could have picked better themselves.

And since our 1999 draft history, they would have a strong case.

It wouldn't be funny if it wasn't so dang true

OK - trying to pick the first few picks till the Browns selection:

1 - Mendoza
2 - Reese
3. Mauigoa
4 - TRADE - Cowboys or KC move up for Bailey.
5- Love
6 - Trade - Rams move up for Tate.
7 - Styles
8 - Tyson
9 - Bain (Ten if KC trade up - KC if they don't).
10 - Downs - steal of the draft at 10.
11 - Delane
12- Faulk (Ten if they traded with DAL. Dallas if they didn't).
13 - Browns select Spencer Fano, OT, Utah with the 13th pick they acquired from LA.

With the sixth pick in the NFL draft the Cleveland Browns take Carnell Tate, WR Ohio State.

I Hope

I'm starting a campaign:

"Anyone but Fano" I don't mind Fano, but he is NOT going to be a left tackle and he won't be an impact day one from the guard spot. If he were there at #24 and they wanted him for a guard. I'm good.

I don't think they pick at 6. If they do pick at 6, I don't think it's Tate.

Happy to bow to your first hand knowledge - most of my predictions are all based on The Athletic or PFF scouting reports and a few youtube cuts. Dan Brugler who I think is very very good - has Fano as his #1 OT. He does say he is probably going to be a RT in the NFL. I have no problem drafting a stud RT at 13 in the draft (assuming we have moved down). And if he played LT in 2026 - he would no doubt be an upgrade over what we saw last season imo.

If we move down, I don't have a problem with it either.

"Just so No to FaNO at #6"

I would dare to argue he might not be an upgrade at LT over last year. His measurements beg to say, he just isn't built to be a LT. He would have to be generational talent to overcome 32 1/4" arms and be successful at LT. They simply can't get the leverage timing down and get beat at a high rate against speed rushers. I don't pretend to understand the science, but history tells us there are only a few successful LT with arms below 33 1/2". I know, it's just over an inch, how could it possibly make any difference? Like I said, I don't understand the science, but it just does.

Now, moving him to the right side where he played his last two years, I think he would be more successful, but more and more teams (See Steelers) have elite edge players on the left side over the RT. I think his best possible spot is going to end up being inside at this level.

If you want to start talking about inside players, trade down to 12-13 and if Vega is still available, I will take him all day long with a smile on my face. He is the best pure guard, and imho, the best overall offensive lineman in this draft. Mauigoa is second, and I don't know if it is measurable considering Mauigoa is going to be changing positions in the NFL, Vega isn't.

My predictions is that Arizona will take then Cowboys 12 and 20 trade down and select Alabama QB Ty Simpson at #20. The Browns will take Ohio State WR Carnell Tate at #6, Georgia LT Monroe Freeling will fall to the Browns, and they will select him #24. Then at #39 the Browns will double down on WR and select Alabama WR Germie Bernard at #39. Solidify the LT position and select 2 safe WR receivers that are known as good route runners and not divas.

Tate would be a great start. Two LT's, and two solid WR picks could help us out. Add best LB available. Hungry for Draft Night, dawgs!

May not be that outrageous if it happened considering all the reports of the relationship Monken developed with both Ty Simpson and his father going back to his high schools days.

I’ve been advocating for a move back and pick up another #1 next year for a QB but I’ve been hearing that most of the scenarios don’t involve enough capital to get some team’s #1 next year. We’d have to drop waaaay back for that.

So I’m thinking we stay put and take Tate at #6 but, and here’s the twist, we move UP from #24 for one of the OT’s. I’ve read a number of places that there’s a steep drop off in talent with WR but also OL this year and 2nd round and beyond is likely the hope-and-prayer-player territory. We need a safe pick for OL. There’s few true quality LT’s this year but several RT’s that could convert. We’re probably giving up a 2nd rounder and handful of other picks this year and next.

Oh, and also… I won’t be surprised if Garrett is moved today for several #1’s next year and beyond. If that happens, Edge becomes a major priority this draft. I don’t want to see that happen, but given the state of things and contract language shift earlier this year, it portends. We’re gonna be middle of the pack this year. We will still desperately need a QB and so we need another #1 next year. Period. I currently see no other way. Doesn’t mean another way won’t emerge, but I don’t currently see it.

I hope not but wouldn't be surprised

While I would say there are very low odds of trading Myles for three 1sts of happening there are some good edge players in this draft and would most likely make addressing that the top priority for the #6 pick.

I have been talking a lot about how I don't like any LT's in this draft, that is at #6. If we took Tate at #6, whom I think could be a catalyst for this offense to improve moving forward, I am all about moving up from #24 to get the OT they feel the best about. For me, it's Kadyn Proctor, but frankly, as long as we get Tate first, I would be very happy to leave this draft with Freeling as well. I do not want FaNO.

We are probably talking about #24 and #70 to get up into either Buccs or Jets ahead of the Lions. If the Lions prefer someone though, I could see them doing the same thing to block us from getting in front of them. If we could get the Buccs #15 though with 24 and 70, I would do it.


Whew.... that would be something. I feel they need to have this in place before the draft begins. If that trade took place, the whole strategy changes completely. They were a top 3 defense BECAUSE of Garrett. We would need two guys from this draft to replace him. As of right now, Garrett has more double teams than any other player. Remove him and that frees up a blocker to help somewhere else. We wouldn't be able to get away with average or below play from the left side rusher any longer. It would probably be priority #1 to get one at #6, then depending on where the other pick is this year, drafting a second rusher early as well. That means you will probably miss out on the top 3 WRs and the top 3 LTs. You could get one or the other in those tiers, but then the defense would be weakened from the loss.

If there were (3) first round picks on the table though, I almost have to take that offer. Myles is 31 in December. He'll be 34 when the new stadium opens... We could have several studs just coming into their prime when they move indoors...

This is a team building for it's future, that future changes when they become a dome team.

Final 1st Rd. Picks 1-32

1. Mendoza - QB
2. Bailey - EDGE
3. Love - RB
4. Reese - EDGE
5. Downs - S
6. Tate - WR
7. Lemon - WR
8. Tyson - WR
9. Bain - EDGE
10. Styles - LB
11. Mauigoa - OT
12. Delane - CB
13. Fano - OT
14. Sadiq - TE
15. Woods - DT
16. Proctor - OT
17. Freeling - OT
18. Theineman - S
19. Boston - WR
20. McNeil-Warren - S
21. Concepcion - WR
22. Iheanaschor -OT
23. Cooper - WR
24. Miller - OT
25. Ioane - OG
26. Lomu - OT
27. Mesidor - EDGE
28. McDonald - DT
29. Johnson - CB
30. Terril - CB
31. Hunter - DT
32. Young - EDGE

25. Ioane - OG

This is criminal. Hahaha.

My personal wishes:

#6: 1a) Tate or 1b) Fano/Mauigoa

#24: 1a) Lomu or 1b) Boston


My prediction:

Browns are unable to find a trade partner to trade down with and select Spence Fano with the #6 overall pick.

Of course you are predicting the possible worse case scenario at #6 1b. with Fano as one of the options.

I don't think we'd get 3. I think it'd be 2 and a handful of other picks. The big thing for me, as you identified, is his age. He could have 4-5 more years of high quality play if he's truly blessed in a LaBron way or... he could have his first devastating injury at literally any time. The odds tell us that is more likely. I don't agree we were a top 3 D solely because of him but he was of course a big reason. I think if we got a stud edge in this draft and another decent safety and corner, we could still probably be top 10. The X factor is coaching and scheme imo. We'd miss him but we could adapt.

But with 2 number ones next year we're looking at hopefully solving the QB position. And that IS WAAAAY more important than anything else. We'd probably also end up with another 2nd or 3rd this year or next. I don't believe in just tons of picks solve all our problems, we've learned that lesson many times. But a bunch of 1st's the year before what some think will be a major QB draft for a 31yr old defensive end.... I would take that deal.

To be fair it's not so much killed as critically wounded. And we pay well for the honor! So your next of kin will be well taken care of at least. Won't you think of the children?

I'd like Tate or Downs. But I think we take an OT

No trades involved the Browns get two of the following:

Tate
Tyson
Freeling
Lomu

They found a trade partner.

j/c:

Someone do a safety check on IrishDawg.

2 out of 3 so far ... Ponds at 39 would be a clean sweep!

god i hope not. Midget Ponds will have it rough in the nfl.

I went to a draft party...

Someone asked me who I wanted... As soon as Tate was picked, the conversation went to what now. I didn't say who I thought at that point, all I said is, I just hope it isn't Fano and Concepcion. True story

Ditto that. I am totally underwhelmed...

I'll be clear, I am now their biggest fan. I want badly to be wrong. All I want is to win.

I have not followed any of this stuff this year, but after reading about Fano on NFL.com I think he can and will really thrive here in this scheme. I think his game can be a LOT like Joe's.

p.s. FWIW: Drew Allar was hanging out at JoJo's in Medina a few nights ago. Probably not overly surprising as he is likely just in town to hang with family during the Draft and all, but maybe there's more there??

I'd say 3 out of 4 since you also predicted the trade down. Impressive!

That's the very best attitude and all we as fans can do. Even with some of the picks like Manziel and Richardson who I actively did not want - I got behind them (until they proved putrid 😁)

Thx - too bad I did not have money on those predictions! Instead I lost a little overall on the bets I did place!