The Cleveland Browns have a lot of new bodies in training camp this year. Besides the usual signings of undrafted rookie free agents, many starters from last year’s roster have retired, been released, or just weren’t offered a new deal going into 2026.
This year’s rookies appear to be another winning class for GM Andrew Berry. We will see. Which ones will become starters? Can these new guys help on game day, or are they more developmental at this stage?
RELATED: WHICH BROWNS’ ROOKIE WILL HAVE THE BEST
YEAR – PART 1
Here at Dawgs by Nature, we asked several Browns experts to pick a rookie player and then describe why they thought that new guy could become the best of his class.
For this upcoming season, when it’s all said and done, which player will be this year’s best rookie?
EZ Weav
DBN Staff
S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
It’s hard to qualify this question; in a general sense, expectations of rookies should be fairly low, but everybody is out of patience, and so nobody will get any grace. Thus, how one does is going to be contingent on what the expectations are of them, and for better or worse. Spencer Fano, KC Concepcion, and Denzel Boston all will not only have higher expectations (probably) than what is reasonable. But also, a large part of their success is going to be determined pretty directly by the quality of the QB play, and in case you haven’t noticed, ours is not exactly the strongest room in the league.
Thus, I’ll go with safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He’s going to have a lot less pressure on him to perform, and he doesn’t need as many things to go right for him to be successful as the offensive guys will need. And he’s going into a room with solid starters already, from whom he can gain some good tutelage. Throw in that the fans (and broadcasters, media, and pretty much everyone other than the players and the coaches) don’t see about 95% of what safeties actually ever even do, so as long as he’s not an obvious liability (like rookie-year Jabrill Peppers), he’s got the most talent/easiest road combo.
Glenn Bam Caudill
Wayne County Browns Backers – Wooster, Ohio
WR Denzel Boston
I think Denzel Boston will have a good year. At 6’-4”, 212 pounds, the wide receiver from the Washington Huskies has the body type and great hands to win the contested catches. The Huskies’ lack of receiving threats led to him seeing double teams at the college level frequently. He was selected by our Browns at 39th overall in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Most pre-draft experts considered him a first-round pick while Pro Football Focus listed him a few spots ahead of receiver KC Concepcion.
Playing 25 games in the last two years, he had over 120 catches, 1,700 yards, and 20 touchdowns. This plays into a move-the-chains and score in the red zone on a consistent basis weapon, which we sorely need. With legitimate receiving threats on the field with him, he will have good chances to make damage on the defense. The preseason hype started early for him in the practices this spring as he looked the part of the big-bodied WR this team has been needing. I predict that he surpasses Cedric Tillman to win a starting job by game one, and he will lead the team in TDs this year with 10.
Angeline Adams
Administrator: Cleveland Browns We Bark Together
LINK: CLEVELAND BROWNS WE BARK TOGETHER
OT Spencer Fano
Every “Good Dawg” knows that one of the most crucial elements in championship football is winning at the line of scrimmage. Elite left tackles are among the rarest and most valuable players in football, with some of the most difficult tasks of pivotal pass protection, relentless run blocking, and critical communication.
To the delight of GM Andrew Berry and many diehard Browns fans, Browns rookie offensive tackle Spencer Fano is no newbie at top-tier dominating in the trenches and will lock in at left tackle. When the Browns selected Fano, the ninth overall pick, he already possessed one of the most premier profiles of any college football offensive linemen. At the University of Utah, he showcased unique toughness and superior versatility by excelling at both left and right tackles. Fano played 37 career games with 36 starts.
His dominance was distinguished in his accolades, including team Captain, 2025 Outland Trophy Winner, Unanimous First Team Associated Press All-American, Big 12 “Offensive Lineman of the Year,” First Team All-Big 12 Honors, as well as “Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.”
Before arriving in “The Land,” in his final and most masterful season as a Ute, Fano played 822 offensive snaps without surrendering a sack or allowing a quarterback hit. Skill players may electrify audiences with dazzling catches, explosive runs, or a pick-six, but a left tackle of Fano’s caliber proves his value on every offensive snap. As a matter of fact, if our quarterback or running back keeps getting slammed on his back from rushing attacks, there can be no flashy highlight reels for fans to catch.
What separates Fano from every other Browns rookie is that his value extends far beyond individual statistics. His athleticism helps him mirror elite edge rushers, his footwork keeps him balanced in pass protection, and his strength opens running lanes that may never make the highlight reel but can decide games. With powerful hands and the versatility to thrive in both zone-and power-blocking schemes, he gives the offense a reliable foundation. Every successful pass, explosive run, and game-winning drive starts with protection in the trenches. That is Fano’s wheelhouse.
Fano also excels in his football instincts. Coaches consistently praised his processing speed, preparation, discipline, leadership, and competitive toughness. Fano’s understanding of defensive schemes, blitz recognition, and pass protection allows him to anticipate defenders before the play unfolds, making him one of the most polished offensive tackle prospects in his draft class. Those traits tend to translate to the NFL more reliably than many athletic traits.
His weaknesses are surprisingly few. Some questioned whether his arm length is ideal for the position and noted that he can occasionally rely on athleticism instead of more forceful hand placement against elite speed rushers. The good news is that those are coachable corrections rather than fundamental flaws. It was his remarkable consistency, technical refinement, athletic traits, and football intelligence that elevated him into the Top-10 of the NFL Draft. Fano was selected to be foundational, a cornerstone of Cleveland’s offense – not to score touchdowns himself, but to create the protection and running lanes that allow everyone else to do just that.
Barry Shuck
DBN Staff Writer
@Barry_Shuck
TE Joe Royer
This time last year, if the question was asked of which rookie would have the greatest year, the answer would have been RB Quinshon Judkins, or perhaps the other RB Dylan Sampson, who had been selected the SEC “Offensive Player of the Year.” Or perhaps QB Shedeur Sanders, whom every media outlet in the nation suddenly covered the Browns.
At season’s end, it was LB Carson Schwesinger. Behind him, TE Harold Fannin. These two, plus Judkins and DT Mason Graham, made the “NFL All-Rookie Team.” But Schwesinger was voted the league’s “Defensive Rookie of the Year” while Fannin busted out as one of the main receivers and had the most targets on the team (107) even though he started three fewer games.
Now that veteran TE David Njoku is no longer on the roster, Fannin assumes the lead position in this group. Todd Monken’s new offense runs a lot of 12 and 13 personnel, so Fannin will need a running mate, a sidekick, a compadre to team up with. And there are plenty of able-bodied players that will compete for the TE2 position to pair with Fannin, and it just might be one of the numerous veterans currently on the roster.
But my best guess is rookie TE Joe Royer.
At the Combine, Monken spoke to the media and stated he will be using a lot of two-tight-end sets. In a nutshell, he adapts the offense to what he has on the roster. Royer has what it takes to become that second tight end Monken will need to run his offense. Royer has drawn Travis Kelce comparisons, who also wasn’t an early-round pick, as most people assume.
Royer and Fannin could become a scary duo. This kid shows exceptional body control and spatial awareness. He can contort his body and catch poorly-thrown passes. He does need some tutelage with blocking, but creates good separation on intermediate throws and will run angry after the catch. He also gives the offense good YAC numbers. Royer’s ball skills are his best attribute. He had zero drops last year and has no issue going over the middle to the field on routes. Plus, he’s a good teammate.
Who do you think will be the best Browns rookie this year?
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