We are now past the half-way point of the first round of this year’s DBN Community NFL Mock Draft. We are releasing four picks at a time in one post to give you more substance to digest how the draft is unfolding. Here you can see all of our NFL mock draft coverage for the Cleveland Browns.
- Picks 1-4 of the Mock Draft
- Picks 5-8 of the Mock Draft
- Picks 9-12 of the Mock Draft
- Picks 13-16 of the Mock Draft
Now, let’s see what the 17-20 picks are.
No. 17 – Lions – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The selection and write-up were made by Ezweav:
With this selection, the Lions get to marry the best player on the board (Monroe Freeling) to a position group that could use
some beefing up. Longtime starter at left tackle Taylor Decker has moved on, so this selection makes a lot of sense.
Detroit has been toying with the notion of moving all-world right tackle Penei Sewell over to the left side, so this selection allows them some latitude on whether or not to execute that option.
No. 18 – Vikings – Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
The selection and write-up were made by Chris Pokorny:
Sometimes, there is a move that everyone projects to work so seamlessly, even though it’s midway through the first round. This year, that seems to involve safety Dillon Thieneman going to the Vikings.
With veteran Harrison Smith’s future still up-in-the-air, Thieneman can ensure the secondary remains strong. Even if Smith returns, selecting Thieneman is still a good decision for Minnesota and his long-term prospects with the team. After Caleb Downs, he’s the next-best safety in this year’s class, and Minnesota should be able to comfortably grab him as other teams chase different positons.
No. 19 – Panthers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
The selection and write-up were made by mrwhitman:
Caleb Lomu represents a strategic investment in their quarterback, Bryce Young, and the long-term stability of their offensive front. He’s highly athletic with superior lateral quickness, and nice foot speed paired with a more-than-adequate technical floor in pass protection. Lomu consistently showcased the ability to handle speed rushers and complex stunts with relative ease. He has room for improvement in run blocking, but he was only a sophomore at Utah, although he did start both seasons for the Utes.
Lomu is a pick who melds the “best player available” mentality with a position of relative need. The Panthers lost Ikem Ekwonu, the starter last year, to offseason knee surgery and there’s no current timetable for his return.
Lomu is a perfect fit for Head Coach Dave Canales’ zone-blocking schemes, providing the Panthers with a Day 1 starter who possesses the frame to add functional mass, room to grow, the opportunity to add experience with reps, and the Pro Bowl upside to solidify the blindside for years to come.
No. 20 – Cowboys – Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
The selection and write-up were made by Swagnasty:
This is a little bit of a risk, but that’s the nature of the draft. It bears repeating that the 2025 Cowboys defense was the worst in the league by many measures, and needs quite a lot of investment.
Keldric Faulk has massive upside and that’s what I’m drafting him. He’s huge, athletic, young, versatile, and reportedly a great leader and teammate. He’s also very raw, so expecting immediate impact will lead to disappointment. If the Cowboys had a more established defense, especially fellow linemen, this dude would be feasting. Instead, he’s going to have to learn on the fly and take some lumps while figuring out how to outplay the opposing trench. If he can improve his technique and tactics, then he could become a truly explosive in year two and beyond.
The biggest hole on the roster is actually linebacker, but the options there are no less risky, so I’m happy to take the best player remaining at a more premium position. Combined with Delane at No. 12, I think this version of NFL draft Day 1 will give those poor tormented Cowboys fans some hope for their defense.
Up next will be the 21-24 picks in the 2026 DBN Community Mock Draft.
