The Cleveland Browns have numerous new our bodies in coaching camp this 12 months. Moreover the standard signings of undrafted rookie free brokers, many starters from final 12 months’s roster have retired, been launched, or simply weren’t supplied a brand new deal going into 2026.
This 12 months’s rookies seem like one other successful class for GM Andrew Berry. We are going to see. Which of them will change into starters? Can these new guys assistance on sport day, or are they extra developmental at this stage?
RELATED: WHICH BROWNS’ ROOKIE WILL HAVE THE BEST YEAR – PART 1
Right here at Dawgs by Nature, we requested a number of Browns consultants to choose a rookie participant after which describe why they thought that new man might change into the most effective of his class.
For this upcoming season, when it’s all stated and carried out, which participant might be this 12 months’s finest rookie?
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren #28 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
It’s arduous to qualify this query; in a normal sense, expectations of rookies needs to be pretty low, however all people is out of persistence, and so no one will get any grace. Thus, how one does goes to be contingent on what the expectations are of them, and for higher or worse. Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston all is not going to solely have larger expectations (in all probability) than what is affordable. But in addition, a big a part of their success goes to be decided fairly straight by the standard of the QB play, and in case you haven’t observed, ours just isn’t precisely the strongest room within the league.
Thus, I’ll go along with security Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He’s going to have quite a bit much less stress on him to carry out, and he doesn’t want as many issues to go proper for him to achieve success because the offensive guys will want. And he’s going right into a room with stable starters already, from whom he can achieve some good tutelage. Throw in that the followers (and broadcasters, media, and just about everybody apart from the gamers and the coaches) don’t see about 95% of what safeties really ever even do, so so long as he’s not an apparent legal responsibility (like rookie-year Jabrill Peppers), he’s acquired essentially the most expertise/best street combo.
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Denzel Boston #12 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
I believe Denzel Boston can have an excellent 12 months. At 6’-4”, 212 kilos, the broad receiver from the Washington Huskies has the physique kind and nice fingers to win the contested catches. The Huskies’ lack of receiving threats led to him seeing double groups on the faculty degree regularly. He was chosen by our Browns at thirty ninth total within the second spherical of the 2026 NFL Draft. Most pre-draft consultants thought of him a first-round decide whereas Professional Soccer Focus listed him a number of spots forward of receiver KC Concepcion.
Taking part in 25 video games within the final two years, he had over 120 catches, 1,700 yards, and 20 touchdowns. This performs right into a move-the-chains and rating within the pink zone on a constant foundation weapon, which we sorely want. With legit receiving threats on the sphere with him, he can have good possibilities to make harm on the protection. The preseason hype began early for him within the practices this spring as he seemed the a part of the big-bodied WR this group has been needing. I predict that he surpasses Cedric Tillman to win a beginning job by sport one, and he’ll lead the group in TDs this 12 months with 10.
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Each “Good Dawg” is aware of that one of the crucial essential parts in championship soccer is successful on the line of scrimmage. Elite left tackles are among the many rarest and most useful gamers in soccer, with a few of the most troublesome duties of pivotal go safety, relentless run blocking, and important communication.
Spencer Fano #55 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Getty Photographs) Getty Photographs
To the delight of GM Andrew Berry and lots of diehard Browns followers, Browns rookie offensive deal with Spencer Fano is not any beginner at top-tier dominating within the trenches and can lock in at left deal with. When the Browns chosen Fano, the ninth total decide, he already possessed one of the crucial premier profiles of any faculty soccer offensive linemen. On the College of Utah, he showcased distinctive toughness and superior versatility by excelling at each left and proper tackles. Fano performed 37 profession video games with 36 begins.
His dominance was distinguished in his accolades, together with group Captain, 2025 Outland Trophy Winner, Unanimous First Crew Related Press All-American, Large 12 “Offensive Lineman of the Year,” First Crew All-Large 12 Honors, in addition to “Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.”
Earlier than arriving in “The Land,” in his closing and most masterful season as a Ute, Fano performed 822 offensive snaps with out surrendering a sack or permitting a quarterback hit. Ability gamers could electrify audiences with dazzling catches, explosive runs, or a pick-six, however a left deal with of Fano’s caliber proves his worth on each offensive snap. As a matter of truth, if our quarterback or working again retains getting slammed on his again from speeding assaults, there might be no flashy spotlight reels for followers to catch.
What separates Fano from each different Browns rookie is that his worth extends far past particular person statistics. His athleticism helps him mirror elite edge rushers, his footwork retains him balanced in go safety, and his power opens working lanes that will by no means make the spotlight reel however can determine video games. With highly effective fingers and the flexibility to thrive in each zone-and power-blocking schemes, he offers the offense a dependable basis. Each profitable go, explosive run, and game-winning drive begins with safety within the trenches. That’s Fano’s wheelhouse.
Fano additionally excels in his soccer instincts. Coaches constantly praised his processing velocity, preparation, self-discipline, management, and aggressive toughness. Fano’s understanding of defensive schemes, blitz recognition, and go safety permits him to anticipate defenders earlier than the play unfolds, making him one of the crucial polished offensive deal with prospects in his draft class. These traits are likely to translate to the NFL extra reliably than many athletic traits.
This time final 12 months, if the query was requested of which rookie would have the best 12 months, the reply would have been RB Quinshon Judkins, or maybe the opposite RB Dylan Sampson, who had been chosen the SEC “Offensive Player of the Year.” Or maybe QB Shedeur Sanders, whom each media outlet within the nation instantly coated the Browns.
At season’s finish, it was LB Carson Schwesinger. Behind him, TE Harold Fannin. These two, plus Judkins and DT Mason Graham, made the “NFL All-Rookie Team.” However Schwesinger was voted the league’s “Defensive Rookie of the Year” whereas Fannin busted out as one of many major receivers and had essentially the most targets on the group (107) although he began three fewer video games.
Joe Royer #18 (Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs through Getty Photographs) Diamond Photographs/Getty Photographs
Now that veteran TE David Njoku is not on the roster, Fannin assumes the lead place on this group. Todd Monken’s new offense runs numerous 12 and 13 personnel, so Fannin will want a working mate, a sidekick, a compadre to group up with. And there are many able-bodied gamers that may compete for the TE2 place to pair with Fannin, and it simply is likely to be one of many quite a few veterans at present on the roster.
However my finest guess is rookie TE Joe Royer.
On the Mix, Monken spoke to the media and acknowledged he might be utilizing numerous two-tight-end units. In a nutshell, he adapts the offense to what he has on the roster. Royer has what it takes to change into that second tight finish Monken might want to run his offense. Royer has drawn Travis Kelce comparisons, who additionally wasn’t an early-round decide, as most individuals assume.
Royer and Fannin might change into a scary duo. This child reveals distinctive physique management and spatial consciousness. He can contort his physique and catch poorly-thrown passes. He does want some tutelage with blocking, however creates good separation on intermediate throws and can run offended after the catch. He additionally offers the offense good YAC numbers. Royer’s ball expertise are his finest attribute. He had zero drops final 12 months and has no concern going over the center to the sphere on routes. Plus, he’s an excellent teammate.
Who do you suppose would be the finest Browns rookie this 12 months?
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