The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 6 overall pick and plenty of draft capital to address several needs. GM Andrew Berry has been forced to go heavy on offensive-line help in free agency due to the departure of the majority of the starters. Still, a true left-tackle upgrade remains a priority, especially considering the questions surrounding Dawand Jones’ durability. The receiver room also desperately needs a true No. 1 playmaker. Adding weapons or protection makes sense, given the question marks at quarterback. At No. 6, the Browns have a chance to land immediate-impact talent in a class that offers several strong options at offensive tackle and wide receiver. There is also a strong possibility that the best player available will be on the other side of the football. Although the Browns have fewer concerns on defense, adding another difference-maker is definitely on the table.
Browns 2026 NFL Draft: Four Best Options for No. 6 Overall
Option 1: Francis Mauigoa or Monroe Freeling
Either Francis Mauigoa or Monroe Freeling could be the answer at OT for the Browns at No. 6 and directly solve Cleveland’s most pressing need on the offensive line. Mauigoa, the Miami product, brings prototypical size, elite footwork, and the kind of mirror-and-slide athleticism that NFL coaches love in pass protection. He has starting experience on the blind side but may be a more natural fit on the right. There is also the possibility of a future move to guard for Mauigoa, so this pick would come with the risk that he is not the long-term solution at tackle. Freeling, the 6’7″ Georgia standout, may offer a higher ceiling at left tackle. He possesses the length and power to stonewall rushers, along with improved foot speed that fits zone schemes and play-action perfectly.
Reasoning For:
Either tackle works better than grabbing a wide receiver or defender this high because offensive-line play is foundational. A flashy WR might light it up early, but without reliable protection the passing game stays stuck in neutral. Mauigoa’s high floor and low bust risk, or Freeling’s long-term potential, both beat reaching for a raw prospect elsewhere. This pick gives whoever lines up at quarterback time to operate in Todd Monken’s scheme and provides a long-term answer on the line.
Reasoning Against:
If Mauigoa can’t cut it on the left or right side, you just spent the No. 6 pick on a guard. To make matters worse, he doesn’t grade out as highly as Vego Ioane strictly as a guard, so you would be taking the second-best interior offensive lineman at six. Freeling is more projection than proven product after only one year starting at left tackle. If he doesn’t continue his ascent, the Browns end up with a swing tackle taken in the top 10.
Option 2: Carnell Tate
Carnell Tate represents the most dynamic offensive upgrade the Browns could make at No. 6. Drafting Tate gives them the true WR1 they’ve been missing. The Ohio State standout is a polished route-runner with excellent body control, strong hands, and the ability to win contested catches. Considering the Browns’ other options currently on the roster, this is precisely what Cleveland needs. Tate’s size-speed combination lets him stretch the field vertically while also winning underneath.
Reasoning For:
This pick works better than drafting an offensive lineman because it gives the offense an immediate threat to work with. A difference-making wideout creates instant mismatches that a potentially underwhelming quarterback room will need. The cleaner the look, the easier it is to connect with the receiver. Compared with edge rushers or developmental tackles, Tate’s impact would be immediate and something opposing defensive coordinators would have to account for.
Reasoning Against:
It’s tough to go all-in on a quality set of mitts when you don’t know whether the quarterback will get the ball there on time—especially with an offensive line that is still a work in progress. Tate would almost represent a luxury pick that Cleveland may not be able to afford at the top of this draft.
Option 3: Sonny Styles
Sonny Styles would represent the best player available at No. 6 if the Browns decide to prioritize elite talent over strict positional need. Styles is a 6’5″, 244-pound athletic freak who ran a 4.46 forty at the combine and posted a 43.5-inch vertical. The linebacking dynamo was a former safety and can impact the game from multiple spots. He possesses plus man-coverage skills, can match and mirror tight ends, can rush the passer, and can blow up the run game. There is simply not a lot to dislike in Sonny’s game.
Reasoning For:
This choice works better than potentially reaching on an OT or taking a standout WR because Styles’ ceiling is arguably the highest among non-offensive skill players in this class. His production and traits are immediately transferable. In a draft where the top offensive tackles come with question marks, he represents a safe, high-impact option. Wide receiver may be better addressed with the No. 24 overall pick. Styles is the smart, high-upside selection with virtually zero risk.
Reasoning Against:
Taking a linebacker at No. 6 may not be something the fan base will enthusiastically support. There are going to be questions about positional value and whether drafting Styles that high represents a true return on investment. With that said, it is easy to view Sonny as the safest pick of the four names listed thus far.
Option 4: Trading Down
Trading down from No. 6 overall may represent the best value the Browns can get out of the pick. In a draft class that some analysts consider weak, adding future capital could be the smart play. Adding additional picks for what appears to be a strong Day 2 also gives Cleveland more options later in the draft. Every player discussed so far could be off the board at the sixth pick. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a player worthy of that high selection, but there may not be a strong value play that justifies staying put.
Reasoning For:
If the Browns are being honest about their current roster, they know that trading down and adding draft capital for 2027 will give them more options to land a franchise passer than standing pat at No. 6 overall. Adding an extra mid-round pick in this draft also gives them another young player to help reset the foundation. In a class loaded with Day 2 talent, trading down maximizes the haul and gives Cleveland more swings at talent. This approach only accelerates the roster build—at a time when the clock may be ticking for Todd Monken.
Reasoning Against:
At some point the Browns are going to have to take swings at high-end talent at the top of the draft. Continually moving down and hitting on quality players is never a bad thing, but there will come a time when a true difference-maker is the difference on Sundays. Taking a player like Styles, Tate, Freeling, or Mauigoa would directly impact the outcome of most games.
The Last Word
These four options give the Browns clearly defined paths to get the most out of the No. 6 overall pick. By balancing immediate needs with long-term roster building, Cleveland has an opportunity to get off on the right foot with their new coaching staff. Maybe it’s adding Carnell Tate to have a true WR1. Or perhaps it will be selecting Sonny Styles to have a player who never has to come off the field regardless of down, distance, or situation. Then again, adding Mauigoa or Freeling could put a foundational block at left tackle for the next decade.
Whichever direction Andrew Berry goes, the 2026 draft offers a real shot to accelerate Cleveland’s turnaround.
Main Image: Adams Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
